HE 


m- 


THE 


YOUNG-  MINER; 


OB, 


TOM  NELSON  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


BY 

HORATIO    ALGER,  JR., 


AUTHOR  <JF  "W4GGRF  DICK,"   "TATTERED   TOM,"   "LUCK  AND   PLUCK," 
"  «K*VE  AND    BOLD  "   SEKIES,   ETC.,  ETC. 


PHILADELPHIA: 
HENRY  T.  COAXES  &  CO. 


FAMOUS  ALGER  BOOKS. 


RAGGED  DICK  SERIES.  By  HORATIO  ALGER,  JR.  6  vols.  12mo.  Cloth. 


RAGGED  DICK. 
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MARK  THE  MATCH  BOY. 

TATTERED  TSji%ERIES. 
•«      Cloth.     PlBgfHBtBIBS. 
TATTER KD  TOM. 
PAUL  THE  PEDDLER. 

TATTERED  TOM  SERIES. 

JULIUS. 

THE  YOUNG  OUTLAW. 


ROUGH  AND  READY. 
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THE  YOUNG  MINER.  BEN'S  NUGGET. 

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THE  YOUNG  CIRCUS  RIDER.  HECTOR'S  INHERITANCE. 

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DIGGING  FOR  GOLD.       FACING  THE  WORLD.       IN  A  NEW  WORLD. 

Other  Volumes  in  Preparation.       : 


COPYRIGHT  BY  A.  K.  LORING,  1879. 


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GENEVIEVE  AND  ANITA  ALGER,  J  8  ?  ^ 

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IS    AFFECTIOHATELY    DEDICATED. 


PREFACE, 


When  "The  Young  Adventurer"  was  pub 
lished,  a  year  since,  as  the  initial  volume  of 
The  Pacific  Series,  it  was  announced  that  the 
second  volume  would  be  "  The  Young  Pio 
neer."  This  has  been  changed  to  "  The  Young 
Miner,'*  in  order  to  avoid  confusion  with  a 
book  bearing  a  title  somewhat  similar  to  the 
one  first  proposed. 

Those  who  were  interested  in  Tom  Nel 
son's  trip  across  the  Plains  will  find  in  the 
present  story  a  record  of  his  adventures  in 
the  Land  of  Gold.  Though  his  prosperity 
was  chiefly  due  to  his  own  energy  and  in 
dustry,  it  is  also  true  that  he  was  excep 
tionally  lucky.  Yet  his  good  fortune  has 


(J  PREFACE. 

been  far  exceeded  by  that  of  numerous 
adventurous  spirits  in  Colorado,  within  the 
last  twelve  months.  Some  measure  of  pros 
perity  generally  awaits  the  patient  and  ener 
getic  worker,  and  seldom  comes  to  those  who 
idly  wait  for  something  to  turn  up. 

NEW  YORK,  Oct.  1,  187». 


THE  YOUNG   MINER; 

OR, 

TOM     NELSON    IN     CALIFORNIA. 
CHAPTER  I. 

THE    GOLD-SEEKERS. 

A  DOZEN  men,  provided  with  rockers,  were  busily 
engaged  in  gathering  and  washing  dirt,  mingled 
with  gold-dust,  on  the  banks  of  a  small  stream 
in  California.  It  was  in  the  early  days,  and  this 
party  was  but  one  of  hundreds  who  were  scattered 
over  the  new  Eldorado,  seeking  for  the  shining 
metal  which  throughout  the  civilized  world  ex 
ercises  a  sway  potent  and  irresistible. 

I  have  said  there  were  a  dozen  men,  but  this 
is  a  mistake.  One  of  the  party  was  a  well-grown 
boy  of  sixteen,  with  a  good-humored  and  even 
handsome  face.  He  was  something  more  than 
good-humored,  however.  There  was  an  expression 


Il6^1  l  TJI&    YOUNG  MINER;  GJJ, 

on  his  face  which  spoke  of  strength  and  resolu 
tion  and  patient  endurance.  The  readers  of  "  The 
Young  Adventurer"  will  at  once  recognize  in  our 
young  hero  Tom  Nelson,  the  oldest  son  of  a  poor 
New  England  farmer,  who,  finding  no  prospects 
at  home,  had  joined  the  tide  of  emigrants  pour 
ing  from  all  parts  of  the  country  to  the  land  of 
which  so  many  marvellous  stories  were  told. 
Tom  had  come  to  work ;  and  though  he  doubt 
less  shared  to  some  extent  the  extravagant  an 
ticipations  of  the  great  body  of  Eastern  visitors 
who  hoped  to  make  a  fortune  in  a  year,  he  did 
not  expect  to  succeed  without  hard  toil. 

His  companions  belonged  to  the  same  party 
with  whom  he  had  crossed  the  plains,  under  the 
leadership  of  Phineas  Fletcher,  a  broad-shouldered 
Illinois  farmer,  who  had  his  family  with  him. 
Next  to  Tom  was  Donald  Ferguson,  a  grave 
Scotchman,  and  Tom's  special  friend ;  a  man  of 
excellent  principles,  thoroughly  reliable,  and  held 
in  high  respect  by  all  though  not  possessed  of 
popular  manners.  On  the  other  side  was  Law 
rence  Peabody,  a  young  Boston  clerk,  who  had 


TOM  NELSON  IN   CALIFORNIA.  11 

spent  several  years  behind  a  dry-goods  counter. 
He  was  soft  and  effeminate,  with  no  talent  for 
"  roughing  it,"  and  wholly  unfitted  for  the  hard 
work  which  he  had  undertaken.  He  was  deeply 
disappointed  in  his  first  work  at  gold-hunting, 
having  come  out  with  the  vague  idea  that  he 
should  pick  up  a  big  nugget  within  a  short  time 
that  would  make  his  fortune  and  enable  him  to 
go  home  a.  rich  man.  The  practical  side  of  gold- 
seeking —  this  washing  particles  of  dust  from  the 
dirt  of  the  river-bed  —  was  in  the  highest  degree 
unsatisfactory  and  discouraging.  He  was  not  a 
bad  fellow ;  and  his  companions,  though  they 
laughed  at  him,  were  well  disposed  towards 
him. 

Among  the  rest,  mention  may  be  made  of  John 
Miles,  Henry  Scott,  and  Chapman,  owner  of  a 
refractory  donkey  named  after  King  Solomon. 

Not  far  away  from  the  river  were  the  tents 
occupied  by  the  miners.  There  was  but  one 
house,  roughly  built  of  logs.  This  was  occupied 
by  Captain  Fletcher  and  his  family.  He  had  not 
had  the  trouble  of  building  it,  but  had  found  it 


12  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

ready  for  occupation,  having  been  constructed  by 
a  previous  party  who  had  wandered  farther  down 
the  river  in  search  of  richer  washings.  In  fact, 
it  was  this  building  which  had  decided  our  party 
to  remain. 

"There  isn't  much  difference  in  places,"  said 
Fletcher.  "  We  may  as  well  stay  here." 

"Then  why  was  it  deserted?"  suggested  John 
Miles,  dubiously.  "  That's  rather  against  it,  isn't 
it,  captain?" 

"  Not  necessarily,  Miles.  You've  been  on  berry 
ing  parties,  haven't  you,  when  at  home?" 

"  Many   a  time." 

"You've  noticed  that  many  of  the  pickers  leave 
good  places,  just  from  love  of  novelty,  and 
wander  about  the  field,  often  faring  worse  than 
if  they  remained  where  they  were?" 

"That's   so,   captain." 

"  Then  let  us  give  this  place  a  try.  We'll 
make  more  working  steady  in  a  medium  place 
'Jian  wandering  here,  there,  and  everywhere." 

So  the  whole  party  agreed  to  "give  the  place 
a  try." 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  13 

There  had  been  no  brilliant  success  as  yet, 
but  fair  luck.  In  six  days  Tom  had  washed  out 
twenty-five  dollars'  worth  of  gold-dust,  in  spite 
of  awkwardness  and  inexperience.  Others  had 
done  better,  but  poor  Lawrence  Peabody  had 
barely  five  dollars'  worth  to  show.  It  must  be 
said,  however,  that  he  had  not  averaged  more 
than  two  or  three  hours  of  real  labor  in  every 
twenty-four.  He  spent  the  rest  of  the  time  in 
wandering  about  aimlessly,  or  sitting  down  and 
watching  the  labors  of  his  companions,  while  he 
enlivened  them  by  pathetic  lamentations  over  his 
unfortunate  position,  so  far  away  from  Boston 
and  the  refining  influences  of  civilization. 

A  little  transcript  of  a  conversation  between 
Tom  and  himself  will  throw  light  upon  the  char 
acters  of  both. 

"This  is  beastly  work,"  sighed  Peabody,  resting 
from  his  by  no  means  arduous  labors,  and  look 
ing  over  to  Tom.  "  I  tell  you,  it  isn't  fit  for  a 
g3ntleman." 

"It  is  rather  hard  to  keep  one's  hands  clean, 
Mr.  Peabody,"  said  Tom  ;  "  but  you  mustn't  think 


14  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    Off, 

of  the  present.  Think  of  the  time  when  you  will 
go  home,  your  pockets  full  of  gold." 

"  I  don't  see  any  prospect  of  it,  Tom,"  sighed 
Peabody.  "Here  I've  been  hard  at  work  for  a 
week,  and  I  haven't  got  over  five  dollars'  worth 
of  dust." 

"  I  have  five   times   as  much,"   said  Tom. 

"Some  people   are   lucky,"   said   Peabody. 

"You  haven't  worked  like  Tom,"  said  the 
cotchman,  plainly.  "You  haven't  averaged  over 
two  hours  a  day,  while  Tom  has  worked  eight 
or  ten." 

"  I  have  worked  till  my  back  was  like  to  break," 
said  the  young  man  from  Boston.  "  I  am  not 
accustomed  to  manual  labor,  Mr.  Ferguson.  My 
friend  Tom  has  worked  on  a  farm,  while  I  have 
been  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits.  Oh,  why 
did  I  leave  Boston ! " 

"I  am  sure  I  can't  guess,"  said  Ferguson, 
dryly. 

"I  never  expected  anything  like  this" 

"  What  did  you  expect,  if  I  may  be  so  bold 
as  to  inquire  ?  " 


TOM   NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  15 

"  I  thought  I  should  find  the  gold  in  big  nug 
gets  worth  thousands  of  dollars  apiece.  I  was 
always  reading  in  the  papers  about  finding  them. 
I  think  it's  a  great  shame  to  deceive  people  by 
such  stories.  I  don't  believe  there  are  any  nug 
gets." 

"  Oh,  yes,  there  are ;  but  they  are  few  and  far 
between,"  said  Fletcher.  "  A  neighbor  of  mine 
found  one  worth  three  thousand  dollars.  Altogether 
he  brought  home  five  thousand  dollars,  and  invested 
it  in  a  farm  and  saw-mill.  He  is  doing  a  good 
business.  When  he  came  to  California  he  had 
nothing." 

44 That  is  what  I  should  like,  Captain  Fletcher," 
said  Tom.  <vlf  I  could  only  manage  to  carry  home 
five  thousand  dollars,  I  could  make  my  father  com 
fortable  for  life." 

"  I  shouldn't  be  satisfied  with  five  thousand 
dollars,"  said  Peabody,  whose  ideas  were  lofty. 

"How  much  would  satisfy  you?" 

"  About  fifty  thousand,"  said  the  young  Bos- 
tonian,  his  face  lighting  up  at  the  thought  of 
BO  large  a  sum. 


16  THE     YOUNG    MINER;   OJJ, 

"And  what  would  you  do  with  it,  if  I  may 
make  so  bold?"  asked  Ferguson. 

"I  would  buy  a  nice  house  at  the  South  End, 
furnish  it  handsomely,  and  live  in  st}7le." 

"I  suppose  you  would  marry?"  suggested  Tom, 
smiling. 

"  I  probably  should,"  answered  Peabody,  gravely. 

"  Perhaps  you  have  the  lady  already  selected." 

"I  have." 

"Who  is  she?"  asked  John  Mills.  "Come, 
now,  Peabody,  don't  be  bashful." 

"It  is  the  daughter  of  a  Boston  merchant." 

"  Does  the  lady  love  you  ? " 

"  We  understand  each  other,"  answered  Peabody, 
loftily.  "  She  would  marry  me,  poor  as  I  am,  but 
for  her  purse-proud,  mercenary  sire.  It  will  be  a 
happy  day  when,  with  my  pockets  full  of  gold,  I 
enter  his  presence  and  claim  his  daughter's  hand." 

"I  wish  you  success,  Mr.  Peabody,"  said  Tom. 
"I  hope  you  have  no  rivals." 

"Yes,  there  is  one." 

"Are  }rou  not  afraid  of  him?" 

"Oh,    no;    he    is    a   fellow   of   no  style,"    gaid 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  17 

Peabody,  drawing  up  his  slender  form,  and  looking 
as  stylish  as  a  very  dirty  shirt,  muddy  boots,  and 
a  soiled  suit  would  allow. 

"I  think  I  shall  wait  awhile  before  getting 
married,"  said  Tom.  "I  am  afraid  I  wouldn't 
stand  any  chance  with  an  heiress,  Mr.  Peabody. 
Do  you  think  I  can  ever  be  stylish?" 

The  Bostonian  understood  Tom  to  be  in  earnest, 
and  told  him  he  thought  in  time,  under  proper 
training,  he  might  become  fairly  stylish.  - 

The  conversation  was  interrupted  by  the  ringing 
of  a  bell  from  the  log-house.  Mrs.  Fletcher,  by 
an  arrangement  with  the  party,  prepared  their 
meals,  and  thus  they  fared  better  than  most  of 
the  early  pioneers.  Their  labor  gave  them  a  good 
appetite,  and  they  were  more  solicitous  about 
quantity  than  quality.  Slow  as  he  was  at  his 
work,  there  was  no  one  who  exhibited  greater 
alacrity  at  meal-times,  than  Lawrence  Peabody. 
At  such  times  he  was  even  cheerful. 


18  THE     YOUNG    MINER; 


CHAPTER  II. 

MISSOURI   JACK. 

AT  the  end  of  a  month  the  settlement  had  con 
siderably  increased.  A  large  party  from  Missouri 
went  to  work  farther  up  stream,  and  a  few  stray 
emigrants  also  added  themselves  to  the  miners  at 
River  Bend,  for  this  was  the  name  selected  by  Cap 
tain  Fletcher  for  the  location.  The  new  arrivals 
were  a  rougher  and  more  disorderly  class  than 
Fletcher  and  his  companions.  Already  there  was  a 
saloon,  devoted  to  the  double  purpose  of  gambling 
and  drinking  ;  and  the  proprietor,  Missouri  Jack  (no 
one  knew  his  last  name) ,  was  doing  a  thriving  busi 
ness.  Indeed  his  income  considerably  exceeded 
that  of  any  one  in  the  settlement. 

Neither  Tom  nor  any  of  his  party  contributed 
much  to  Missouri  Jack's  profits.  In  consequence, 
they  had  to  bear  the  ill-will  and  sometimes  open 
abuse  of  Jack  and  his  friends. 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  19 

44  Come  in  and  take  a  drink,  stranger,"  called 
out  Jack,  the  day  after  the  opening  of  the  saloon, 
to  Captain  Fletcher. 

"No,  thank  you." 

44  It  shan't  cost  you  a  cent." 

44  It  would  cost  me  my  health,"  returned  Fletcher. 

u  Do  you  mean  to  say  I  sell  bad  whiskey?" 
demanded  Jack,  angrily,  emphasizing  the  inquiry  by 
an  oath. 

44 1  don't  know  anything  about  it." 

44  Then   what   do  you   mean:"' 

44 1  mean  that  all  whiskey  is  bad  for  the  health," 
replied  Fletcher. 

44  Oh,  you're  a  temperance  sneak!"  exclaimed 
Missouri  Jack,  contemptuous!}7. 

44 1  am  a  temperance  man  ;  you  may  leave  out  the 
other  word,"  calmly  answered  Fletcher. 

44  You're  not  a  man  !  "  exploded  Jack.  u  A  man 
that's  afraid  of  whiskey  is  a  —  a  —  isn't  half  a  man. 
He  isn't  fit  to  be  a  woman." 

44  Have  it  as  you  like,"  said  Fletcher,  unruffled. 
44 1  shall  not  drink  to  please  any  man.  I  had  a 
younger  brother  —  a  bright,  promising  young  man 


20  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OJ2, 

poor  Ben  was  —  who  drank  himself  to  death.  He'd 
have  been  alive  now  but  for  whiskey." 

u  Oh,  dry  up  your  pious  talk !  You  make  me 
sick ! "  exclaimed  Missouri  Jack  in  deep  disgust. 

Next  he  accosted  John  Miles,  who  curtly  declined » 
and  received  in  return  a  volley  of  abuse.  Now 
Miles  was  a  powerful  man,  and  not  possessed  of 
Fletcher's  self-control.  He  paused,  and  surveyed 
Jack  with  a  menacing  look. 

"Look  here,  stranger,"  he  said,  sharply,  "just 
have  a  care  how  you  use  that  tongue  of  3*ours.  This 
is  a  free  county,  and  if  I  choose  to  decline  your 
whiskey,  there's  no  law  against  it  that  I  know  of." 

"You're   a   white-livered   sneak!" 

Missouri  Jack  did  not  proceed  with  his  remarks, 
for  John  Miles,  seizing  him  by  the  shoulder,  tripped 
him  up,  and  strode  away,  leaving  him  prostrate, 
and  pouring  out  a  volley  of  curses.  Being  a  bully, 
and  cowardly  as  most  bullies  are,  he  did  not  pursue 
bis  broad-shouldered  enemy,  but  vowed  vengeance 
whenever  a  good  opportunity  came. 

In  fact,  the  only  one  of  the  original  miners  who 
accepted  Jack's  invitation  was  Lawrence  Peabody. 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  21 

"  Step  in,  stranger,  and  have  a  drink  !  "  said  Jack, 
a  little  dubiously,  having  met  with  such  poor  luck 
heretofore. 

The  young  Bostonian  paused.  He  was  not  a 
drinker  at  home,  but  in  his  discontent  and  dis 
appointment  he  was  tempted. 

"  My  dear  sir,  you  are  very  polite,"  he  said. 

"  I  hope  you  ain't  one  of  them  temperance 
sneaks,"  said  Jack,  his  brow  clouding  in  anticipa 
tion  of  a  refusal. 

"I  assure  you  I  am  not,"  Peabody  hastened  to 
say.  "  I  have  participated  in  convivial  scenes  more 
than  once  in  Boston." 

"I  don't  understand  college  talk,"  said  Jack; 
"  but  if  you  want  a  glass  of  prime  whiskey,  just 
say  the  word." 

"  I  don't  care  if  I  do,"  said  Peabody,  following 
his  new  friend  into  the  saloon. 

The  draught  of  prime  whiskey  scorched  his  throat 
as  he  swallowed  it  down,  but  it  was  followed  by  a 
sense  of  exhilaration,  and  Peabody's  tongue  was 
loosened. 

"You're    a    gentleman!"    said    Missouri    Jack. 


22  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

"  You  ain't  like  them  fellows  you're  with.  They're 
sneaks." 

"  Really,  you  compliment  me,  Mr.  — ,  what  may 
I  call  your  name  ?  " 

"  Missouri  Jack  —  that's  the  peg  I  hang  on  to." 

"My  dear  Mr.  Jack,  I  am  glad  to  know  you. 
You  are  really  quite  an  accession  to  our  settlement." 

"  Well,  if  I  ain't,  my  saloon  is.  How  you've 
managed  to  live  so  long  without  liquor  beats  me. 
Why,  it  ain't  civilized." 

"It  was  pretty  dull,"  admitted  Peabody. 

u  No  life,  no  amusement ;  for  all  the  world  like  a 
parcel  of  Methodists.  What  luck  have  you  met 
with,  stranger?" 

"  Beastly  luck ! "  answered  Peabody.  "  I  tell  you, 
Mr.  Jack,  California's  a  fraud.  Many  a  time  I've 
regretted  leaving  Boston,  where  I  lived  in  style,  and 
moved  in  the  first  circles,  for  such  a  place  as  this. 
Positively,  Mr.  Jack,  I  feel  like  a  tramp,  and  I'm 
afraid  I  look  like  one.  If  my  fashionable  frienda 
could  see  me  now,  they  wouldn't  know  me." 

"  I  ain't  got  no  fashionable  friends,  and  I  don't 
want  any,"  growled  Missouri  Jack,  spitting  on  the 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  23 

floor.  "  What  I  want  is,  to  meet  gentlemen  that 
ain't  afraid  to  drink  like  gentlemen.  I  say,  stranger, 
you'd  better  leave  them  Methodist  fellers,  and  join 
our  gang." 

"  Thank  you,  Mr.  Jack,  you're  very  kind,  and  I'll 
think  of  it,"  said  Peabody,  diplomatically.  Though 
a  little  exhilarated,  he  was  not  quite  blind  to  the 
character  of  the  man  with  whom  he  was  frater 
nizing,  and  had  too  much  real  refinement  to  enjoy 
his  coarseness. 

"  Have   another  drink !  " 

"  Thank  you." 

Peabody  drank  again,  this  time  with  a  friend 
of  Jack's,  a  man  of  his  own  stripe,  who  straggled 
into  the  saloon. 

"Do  you  play  euchre?"  asked  Jack,  producing 
a  dirty  pack  of  cards. 

"I  know  little  of  it,"  said  Peabody ;" but  I'll 
try  a  game." 

"  Then  you  and  me  and  Bill  here  will  have  a 
game." 

4 'All  right,"  said  Peabody,  glad  to  while  away 
the  time. 


24  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OJ2, 

"What'll  you  put  up  on  3Tour  game,  stranger?" 
asked  Bill. 

"You  don't  mean  to  play  for  money,  do  you?" 
asked  Peabody,  a  little  startled. 

"  Sartain  I  do.  What's  the  good  of  play  in*  foi 
nothing  ?  " 

So  the  young  Bostonian,  out  of  his  modest  pile 
was  tempted  to  stake  an  ounce  of  gold-dust. 
Though  his  head  was  hardly  in  a  condition  to 
follow  the  game  intelligently,  he  won,  or  at  least 
Bill  and  Jack  told  him  he  had,  and  for  the  first 
time  Lawrence  felt  the  rapture  of  the  successful 
gambler,  as  he  gathered  in  his  winnings. 

"He  plays  a  steep  game,  Bill,"   said  Jack. 

"  Tip-top  —  A  No.    1." 

"  I  believe  I  do  play  a  pretty  good  game,', 
said  the  flattered  Peabody.  "  My  friends  in  Boston 
used  to  say  so." 

"  You're  hard  to  beat,  and  no  mistake,"  said 
Bill.  "Try  another  game." 

"I'm  ready,  gentlemen,"  said  Peabody,  with 
alacrity. 

"It's    a    great    deal    easier  earning    money   this 


TOM   NELSON    IN   CALIFORNIA.  25 

way,"  he  reflected,  regarding  complacent!}  the  two 
ounces  of  dust  which  represented  his  winnings, 
"than  washing  dirt  out  of  the  river."  And  the 
poor  dupe  congratulated  himself  that  a  new  way 
of  securing  the  favors  of  fortune  had  been  opened 
to  him. 

The  reader  will  easily  guess  that  Lawrence  Pea- 
body  did  not  win  the  next  game,  nor  will  he 
be  surprised  to  hear  that  when  he  left  the  saloon 
his  pockets  were  empty. 

"Better  luck  next  time,  stranger,"  said  Jack, 
carelessly.  "Take  a  drink  before  you  go?" 

Peabody  accepted  the  invitation,  and  soon  after 
staggered  into  the  tent  occupied  by  Tom  and  his 
friend  Ferguson. 

"What's  the  matter,  Mr.  Peabody?"  asked 
Tom.  "Are  you  sick?" 

"  Yes,"  answered  Peabody,  sinking  to  the  floor. 
"  Something's  the  matter  with  my  head.  I  don't 
feel  well." 

"Have  you  been  to  the  saloon,  Mr.  Peabody?'" 
asked  Ferguson. 

"Yes,"   answered   the  Bostonian. 


26  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    0/J, 

"  And  while  there  you  drank  some  of  their  vile 
•whiskey,  didn't  you?" 

"I'm  a  free  man,  Mr.  Ferguson.  If  I  choose 
to  drink,  what  —  what  business  is  it  —  yours?" 

"None,  except  as  a  friend  I  advise  you  not  to 
go  there  again." 

Further  inquiries  elicited  the  facts  about  the 
gambling,  and  Ferguson  and  Tom  seriously  re 
monstrated  with  Peabody,  who,  however,  insisted 
that  Mr.  Jack,  as  he  called  him,  was  a  hospitable 
gentleman. 

The  dust  which  Peabody  had  lost  should  have 
been  paid  to  Capt.  Fletcher,  as  his  share  of  the 
expenses  that  same  evening.  Of  course  this  was 
now  impossible.  Fletcher  warned  him  that  any 
subsequent  failure  from  the  same  cause  woull  be 
followed  by  an  exclusion  from  his  table. 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  27 


CHAPTER  III. 

HOW  TOM   GOT   ON. 

ABOUT  this  time  Tom  took  account  of  stock. 
He  had  come  out  to  California  with  the  noble 
and  praiseworthy  purpose  of  earning  money  to  help 
his  father  pay  off  the  mortgage  on  his  little 
farm.  He  was  the  more  anxious  to  succeed, 
because  two  hundred  dollars  of  the  amount  had 
been  raised  to  defray  his  expenses  across  the 
continent.  The  mortgage,  amounting  now  to 
twenty-two  hundred  dollars,  was  held  by  Squire 
Hudson,  a  wealthy  resident  of  the  same  town, 
who  hoped  eventually  to  find  an  excuse  for  fore 
closing  the  mortgage,  and  ejecting  Mr.  Nelson's 
family.  He  was  actuated  not  alone  by  mercenary 
motives,  but  also  to  gratify  an  ancient  grudge. 
In  early  life  Mrs.  Nelson,  Tom's  mother,  had 
rejected  the  suit  of  the  wealthy  squire,  and  this 
insult,  as  he  chose  to  characterize  it,  he  had 
never  forgotten  or  forgiven. 


28  THE    YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

Had  Tom  been  aware  of  the  Squire's  feelings, 
towards  his  family,  he  never  would  have  been 
willing  to  have  the  mortgage  increased  for  his 
sake,  much  as  he  wished  to  go  to  California. 
But  neither  Tom  nor  his  father  dreamed  of  Squire 
Hudson's  secret  animosity,  and  regarded  his  wil 
lingness  to  advance  the  extra  two  hundred  dollars 
as  an  evidence  of  friendship. 

But  I  have  said  that  Tom  took  account  of 
stock  —  in  other  words,  ascertained  how  much  he 
was  worth.  First,  then,  of  the  money  borrowed 
for  his  trip  —  the  original  two  hundred  dollars  — 
he  had  twentj^-five  dollars  left  over.  Besides  this 
sum,  after  paying  all  expenses,  he  had  accumulated, 
by  hard  work  and  strict  economy,  fifty  dollars'  worth 
of  gold-dust. 

"I  wish  father  had  this  money,"  said  Tom  to 
his  tent-mate,  Ferguson.  "I  am  afraid  he  stands 
in  need  of  it." 

"  There  may  be  a  way  to  send  it  to  him, 
Tom." 

"I   wish  there  were." 

"  There's   one   of  our   party  going  to  San  Fran- 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  29 

cisco  next  week.  He  can  buy  a  draft  there,  and 
Bend  it  to  your  father." 

"  Who  is  going?"   asked  Tom,   eagerly. 

44  John  Miles.  You  can  trust  him  with  the 
money,  Tom." 

"  Of  course  I  can.  I'd  trust  John  Miles  with 
an}r  sum." 

"Who's  that  taking  liberties  with  my  name?" 
asked  a  manly  voice,  and  John  Miles  himself 
stepped  into  the  tent,  bending  his  head  as  he 
entered. 

"I  hear  you  are  going  to  San  Francisco, 
John?" 

"Yes,   I  start  next  week." 

"  Will  you  come  back    again  ?  " 

44 1  intend  to.  I  am  going  to  prospect  a 
little,  and  buy  some  things  for  myself  and  Cap 
tain  Fletcher." 

44  Will  you   do  me  a  favor?" 

44  Of  course  I  will,  if  it  isn't  too  large  a  one," 
answered  Miles. 

Tom  explained  what  he  wished,  and  John 
Miles  cordially  assented. 


30  THE   JOUNQ  MINER;  OR, 

"  You're  a  good  boy,  Tom,"  he  said,  "  to  think 
of  your  father  so  soon." 

"  I  feel  anxious  about  him,"  said  Tom.  "  He 
raised  money  to  send  me  out  here,  and  I  don't 
want  him  to  suffer  for  it." 

"That's  the  right  way  to  feel,  Tom.  I  wish 
I  had  a  father  and  mother  to  look  out  for,"  said 
Miles,  soberly,  "  but  }rou're  in  better  luck  than 
I.  Both  died  when  I  was  a  mere  lad.  How 
much  do  you  want  to  send  ? " 

"  Seventy-five  dollars." 

"  Have  you  saved  up  so  much  already?" 
asked  Miles,  in  surprise. 

"Part  of  it   I  had  left  over  when  I  got  here." 

"Will  you  have   any  left?" 

"  No." 

"Isn't  it  well  to  reserve  a  little,   then?" 

"  Oh,  I  shall  have  some  more  soon,"  answered 
Tom,  sanguine,  as  most  boys  are. 

"Suppose  you  are   sick?" 

"If  he  is  sick  he  shall  suffer  for  nothing,' 
said  the  Scotchman.  "  While  I  have  money,  Tom 
shall  not  feel  the  want  of  it." 


TOM    NELSON   IN  CALIFORNIA.  81 

"  Thank  you,  Mr.  Ferguson,"  said  Tom,  grate 
fully. 

"  That  old  fellow  has  a  heart,  after  all,"  thought 
Miles,  who  had  been  disposed  to  look  upon  Fer 
guson  ever  since  their  first  acquaintance,  as  rather 
miserly. 

The  Scotchman  was  certainly  frugal,  and  counted 
his  pennies  carefully,  but  he  was  not  mean,  and 
had  conceived  a  strong  affection  for  his  young 
companion,  whom  he  regarded  much  as  a  son  or 
a  nephew. 

"  Suppose  you  take  the  money  now,  John," 
said  Tom. 

"  Shall  I  scribble  a  receipt,  Tom?  I  am  afraid 
my  writing  materials  have  given  out." 

"  I  don't  want  any  receipt,"  said  Tom ;  "  I'll 
trust  you  without  one." 

"  Nevertheless,  lad,"  said  the  cautious  Scotchman, 
"it  may  be  well  —  " 

"  Yes,  Tom,  Mr.  Ferguson  is  right.  Of  course 
I  know  that  you  trust  me ;  but  if  anything 
should  happen  to  me,  —  any  accident,  I  mean,  — 
the  paper  may  be  useful  to  you." 


82  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

"  Just  as  you  like,  Mr.  Miles,  but  I  don't  ask 
it,  remember  that." 

"  Yes,  I  will  remember  it,  and  I  don't  mean 
to  meet  with  any  accident  if  I  can  help  it.  Mr. 
Ferguson,  can  }rou  oblige  me  with  a  pipeful  of 
tobacco?  I'll  join  you  in  smoking." 

Smoking  was  the  Scotchman's  solitary  extrav 
agance,  not  a  costly  one,  however,  as  he  never 
smoked  cigars,  but  indulged  only  in  a  democratic 
clay  pipe. 

John  Miles  threw  himself  on  the  ground  be 
tween  Tom  and  his  Scotch  friend,  and  watched 
complacently  the  wreaths  of  smoke  as  they  curled 
upwards. 

"Tom,  you  ought  to  smoke,"  he  said.  "You 
don't  know  how  much  enjoyment  you  lose." 

"Don't  tempt  the  lad,"  said  Ferguson.  "It's  a 
bad  habit." 

"  You  smoke  yourself." 

"  That  is  true,  but  it  isn't  well  for  a  growing 
boy.  It  can  do  him  no  good." 

"  I  smoked  before  I  was  as  old  as  Tom." 

"  So  did  I,  but  I  wish  I  had  not." 


TOM    NELSON    IN   CALIFORNIA.  33 

"  Well,  perhaps  you're  right,  but  it's  a  comfort 
when  a  man's  tired  or  out  of  spirits." 

"I  am  not  troubled  in  that  way,"  said  Tom. 
44  I  mean  with  being  out  of  spirits." 

44  Youth  is  a  hopeful  age,"  said  the  Scotchman. 
44  When  we  are  young  we  are  always  hoping  for 
something  good  to  befall  us." 

"And  when  one  is  older,  how  is  it,  Mr. 
Ferguson  ?  " 

44  We  fear  ill  more  than  we  hope  for  good,"  he 
replied. 

"  Then  I  want  to  remain  young  as  long  as  I 
can." 

"  A  good  wish,  Tom.  Some  men  are  always 
young  in  spirit;  but  those  that  have  seen  the 
evil  there  is  in  the  world  find  it  harder  to  be 
hopeful." 

"You  speak  as  if  you  had  had  experience  of 
the  evil,  Mr.  Ferguson." 

"  So  I  have,"  answered  the  Scotchman  slowly. 
Then,  after  a  pause,  "I  will  tell  you  about  it: 
it's  no  secret." 

44  Not  if  it  is  going  to  pain  you." 


34  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    07?, 

"  Oh,  the  pain  is  past.  It's  only  a  matter  of 
money,  and  those  wounds  heal." 

"Only  a  matter  of  money!"  said  John  Miles 
to  himself.  "  I  must  have  misjudged  Ferguson. 
I  thought  money  was  all  in  ail  with  him.  I  d\l 
not  think  he  would  speak  so  lightly  of  it." 

"  When  I  was  a  young  man,"  Ferguson  begai* 
"my  father  died,  leaving  me  a  thousand  pounds, 
and  a  small  annuity  to  my  mother.  With  this 
money  I  felt  rich,  but  I  knew  it  would  not  sup 
port  me,  nor  was  I  minded  to  be  idle.  So  I  began 
to  look  about  me,  to  consider  what  business  I  had 
best  go  into,  when  a  young  man,  about  my 
own  age,  a  clerk  in  a  mercantile  house,  came  to 
me  and  proposed  a  partnership.  He  was  to  put 
in  five  hundred  pounds,  and  contribute  his  knowl" 
edge  of  business,  which  was  greater  than  mine. 
He  was  a  young  man  of  good  parts,  and  had  a 
brisk,  pleasant  way  with  him,  that  made  him  a 
favorite  in  business  circles.  I  thought  it  was  a 
good  chance,  and,  after  taking  a  little  time  for 
thought,  agreed  to  his  proposal.  So  the  firm  of 
Mclnttre  and  Ferguson  was  formed.  We  went 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  35 

into  business,  and  for  a  time  all  seemed  to  go 
well.  As  my  partner  chose  to  keep  the  books,  I 
was  not  so  clear  as  I  wished  to  be  about  mat 
ters,  but  we  seemed  to  be  prospering.  One  morn 
ing,  however,  on  coming  to  business,  I  found  that 
my  partner  had  disappeared,  after  possessing  him 
self  of  all  the  money  he  could  collect  on  the 
credit  of  the  firm.  Of  course  we  were  bankrupts, 
or  rather  I  was,  for  he  left  me  to  bear  the 
brunt  of  failure." 

"  Have  you  ever  seen  him  since,  Mr.  Fer 
guson  ?  " 

"  From  that  day  to  this  —  twenty  years  —  I  have 
never  set  eyes  on  Sandy  Mclntire." 

"  It  was  a  mean  trick  to  serve  you,  Fergu 
son,"  said  Miles. 

"Yes,"  said  the  Scotchman,  soberly.  "I  mind 
ed  the  loss  of  money,  but  the  loss  of  confidence 
was  a  sore  thought  too,  after  all  the  trust  I  had 
put  in  that  man." 

Presently  Miles  rose  to  go. 

44  I'll  take  care  of  your  money,  Tom,"  he  said, 
"  and  do  -my  best  to  get  it  safely  to  your  father." 


36  THE   YOUNG  MINER;  OR, 

"  Thank  you,  John." 

As  Miles  left  the  tent,  he  did  not  observe  a 
crouching  figure  on  the  other  side  of  it.  It  was 
the  figure  of  Bill  Crane,  a  crony  of  Missouri 
Jack,  in  fact,  the  man  who  helped  him  to  fleece 
poor  Peabody  of  his  scanty  hoard. 

Bill  looked  after  Miles  enviously. 

"I  wonder  how  much  money  he's  got?"  thought 
Bill.  "I'd  like  some  of  it,  for  I'm  bust.  I 
must  tell  Jack.  I  don't  dare  to  tackle  him  alone." 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  37 


CHAPTER  IV. 

A    FOILED    ROBBER. 

IN  the  grand  rush  to  the  newly  discovered 
gold-fields  all  classes  were  represented.  There 
were  men  of  education,  representatives  of  all  the 
learned  professions,  men  versed  in  business,  and 
along  with  them  adventurers  and  men  of  doubtful 
antecedents,  graduates  of  prisons  and  penitentiaries. 
Bill  Crane,  introduced  in  the  last  chapter,  belonged 
to  the  latter  undesirable  class.  He  had  served 
a  term  at  Sing-Sing  as  a  housebreaker,  and 
later  another  term  in  a  Western  penitentiary. 
He  had  come  to  California  with  a  prejudice 
against  honest  labor,  and  a  determination  to 
make  a  living  by  the  use  of  the  peculiar  talents 
on  which  he  had  hitherto  relied.  He  had  spent 
a  week  at  River  Bend,  chiefly  at  the  saloon  of 
Missouri  Jack,  whom  he  found  a  congenial  spirit, 
and  had  picked  up  a  little  money  from  flats  like 


88  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

the  young  Bostonian ;  but,  on  the  whole,  he  had 
found  it  an  unprofitable  field  for  the  exercise  of 
his  special  talents. 

<l  I  must  make  a  raise  somehow,"  he  bethought 
himself,  "  and  then  I'll  make  tracks  for  some 
other  settlement." 

Precisely  how  to  raise  the  fund  of  which  he 
stood  in  need  was  difficult  to  decide.  Mone}Ted 
men  were  not  plenty  at  River  Bend.  Captain 
Fletcher  and  his  party  had  been  at  work  but  a 
short  time,  and  were  not  likely  to  have  collected 
much. 

As  we  know,  Bill  Crane  overheard  a  part  of 
the  closing  conversation  between  Tom  and  John 
Miles.  From  this  he  learned  that  Miles,  besides 
his  own  money,  would  be  in  charge  of  seventy- 
five  dollars  belonging  to  our  young  hero.  It 
was  not  much,  but  it  was  something. 

"  If  the  whole  doesn't  come  to  over  two  hun 
dred  dollars,  I  can  make  it  do,"  thought  Crane. 
"  It  will  get  me  out  of  this  beastly  hole,  and 
carry  me  to  San  Francisco." 

John    Miles    slept    by    himself    under    a    small 


TOM    NELSON    IN   CALIFORNIA.  89 

tent  at  the  northern  end  of  the  small  encamp 
ment.  He  looked  like  a  man  who  ate  well  and 
slept  well,  and  tbis  would  be  favorable  to  Bill 
Crane,  who  proposed  to  effect  the  robbery  in  the 
night.  He  had  half  a  mind  to  secure  the  aid 
of  Missouri  Jack,  but  then  Jack  would  expect 
to  go  shares  in  the  "  plunder,"  and  there  was 
likely  to  be  little  enough  for  one.  So  Bill 
decided  to  make  the  attempt  alone. 

In  a  small  camp  like  that  at  River  Bend,  the 
movements  and  plans  of  each  individual  were 
generally  known.  So  it  was  generally  understood 
that  John  Miles  intended  to  start  on  Thursday 
for  the  city . 

The  previous  evening  he  spent  with  Tom  and 
Ferguson,  with  whom  he  was  more  intimate  than 
any  others  of  the  party.  He  would  not  have 
been  drawn  to  the  Scotchman,  but  for  his  being 
Tom's  room-mate.  Through  him  he  came  to 
appreciate  and  respect  the  Scot's  sterling  virtues, 
and  to  overlook  his  dry,  phlegmatic  manner. 

"I  hope  ycu'll  have  good  luck,  Mr.  Miles,"  said 
Tom. 


40  THE    YOUXG  MINER;  OR, 


44  Thank  you,  my 

"  I  would  join  with  my  young  friend  Tom,"  said 
Ferguson,  "  if  I  were  quite  clear  in  my  mind 
whether  good  luck  is  the  right  term  to  use." 

44  Don't  you  think  some  men  are  luckier  than 
others,  Mr.  Ferguson?"  asked  Tom. 

"Some  men  are  more  successful,  doubtless;  but 
what  we  call  good  luck,  generally  comes  from  greater 
industry,  good  judgment,  and,  above  all,  the  prompt 
use  of  opportunities." 

"  There  is  something  in  that,"  said  Miles  ;  "  but 
when  two  men  work  side  by  side  with  equal  indus 
try,  and  one  finds  a  nugget  worth  thousands  of  dol 
lars,  while  the  other  plods  along  at  a  few  dollars  a 
day,  isn't  there  some  luck  there?" 

"  It  may  be  so,"  said  the  Scotchman,  cautiously, 
44  but  such  cases  are  exceptional." 

44  So  one  boy  is  born  to  an  inheritance  of  wealth 
and  another  to  an  inheritance  of  hard  work.  Isn't 
there  any  luck  there  ?  " 

44  The  luck  may  be  on  the  side  of  the  poor  boy," 
was  the  reply.  44  He  is  further  removed  from  temp 
tation." 


TOM    NELSON    IK    CALIFORNIA.  41 

John   Miles   laughed. 

"  Well,  at  any  rate,  it  seems  you  believe  in  luck 
after  all.  I  am  sure  you  both  wish  me  to  be  pros 
perous,  whether  you  call  it  luck  or  by  some  other 
name.  Tom,  if  I  meet  with  any  good  opening  that 
I  think  will  suit  you,  I  shall  write  you.  You  don't 
want  to  stay  here,  particularly?" 

"  No ;  the  place  is  not  so  pleasant  since  these 
new  people  have  come  here.  Missouri  Jack  isn't  a 
neighbor  that  I  like." 

"He  is  exerting  a  bad  influence,"  said  Ferguson. 
"  I  am  afraid  Peabody  visits  him  too  often  for  his 
own  good." 

"  He  ought  to  have  stayed  in  Boston,"  said  Miles. 
"  He  is  not  the  man  for  such  a  life  as  ours.  He  is 
too  delicate  to  work,  or  thinks  he  is,  and  I  see  no 
other  reliable  road  to  success." 

"  I  saw  Peabody  reeling  out  of  the  saloon  this 
afternoon,"  said  Tom.  "I  asked  him  if  he  con 
sidered  it  was  "  high-toned  "  to  drink  in  a  saloon, 
as  that  is  the  word  he  is  always  using,  but  he  said 
it  didn't  make  much  difference  out  here,  where  he 
wasn't  known." 


42  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

"  Peabody  isn't  overstocked  with  brains,  though 
he  does  come  from  Boston,"  said  Miles. 

Ten  o'clock  came,  and  Miles  rose  to  go. 

"I  must  have  a  good  night's  rest,"  he  said,  "  for 
to-morrow  night  must  see  me  many  miles  on  my 
road.  Tom,  I  will  attend  to  that  commission  of 
yours  just  as  soon  as  I  have  the  opportunity." 

"  Thank  you,   Mr.   Miles." 

John  Miles  walked  slowly  toward  his  tent.  Ar 
rived  there,  he  threw  himself  down  on  his  rude 
couch,  and  in  less  than  fifteen  minutes,  he  was  sound 
asleep.  He  had  done  his  usual  day's  work,  and 
made  some  preparations  for  his  journey  besides,  and 
these  made  slumber  sweet  and  refreshing. 

Before  settling  himself  for  the  night,  however, 
Miles  carefully  deposited  a  bag  of  gold-dust  under 
his  head,  wrapped  up  in  an  extra  pair  of  pantaloons. 
Had  he  known  that  Bill  Crane  had  formed  a  plan  to 
rob  him  that  very  night,  he  would  have  taken  extra 
precautions,  but  he  was  not  inclined  to  be  suspi 
cious,  or  to  anticipate  danger. 

Perhaps  an  hour  later,  Tom,  who  found  himself 
unusually  restless,  got  up  from  his  hard  couch,  leav 


TOM    NELSON    IN   CALIFORNIA.  43 

ing  Ferguson  fast  asleep,  and  went  out  into  the  air, 
thinking  that  a  walk  would  do  him  good  and  dis 
pose  him  to  sleep.  The  night  was  dark,  but  not 
wholly  so.  There  was  no  moon,  but  a  few  stars 
were  shining ;  and  as  his  eyes  became  accustomed  to 
the  faint  light,  he  could  easily  distinguish  objects 
at  the  distance  of  a  few  rods. 

Tom's  thoughts  reverted  to  his  humble  home, 
more  than  three  thousand  miles  away.  Probably  the 
fact  that  he  had  committed  to  John  Miles  a  sum  of 
money  to  send  to  his  father,  had  turned  his  thoughts 
in  that  direction. 

"  Father  will  be  glad  to  get  the  seventy-five  dol 
lars,"  thought  Tom,  "  and  I  am  sure  he  will  need 
it.  I  wish  it  could  get  there  more  quickly,  but  it 
is  a  long  way  off." 

Tom  was  not  homesick,  and  was  far  from  wishing 
himself  back,  with  his  object  in  coming  yet  unac 
complished,  but  it  did  occur  to  him,  that  he  would 
like  to  see  his  father  and  mother,  and  brothers  and 
sisters,  if  only  for  a  few  minutes. 

When  he  came  out  he  had  no  particular  direc 
tion  in  mind  in  which  he  wished  to  walk,  but  chance 


44  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OX, 

directed  his  steps  toward  the  tent  of  his  friend, 
John  Miles. 

When  he  came  near  it,  his  attention  was  arrested 
by  the  sight  of  a  crouching  figure  which  appeared 
to  be  entering  the  tent.  His  first  thought  was, 
that  Miles,  like  himself,  had  got  up  from  his 
couch  and  was  just  returning.  He  was  on  the 
point  of  calling  out  "John,"  when  a  sudden  doubt 
and  suspicion  silenced  him.  — "  Might  not  it  be  a 
robber?" 

Tom  was  determined  to  find  out.  He  crept 
nearer,  so  that  he  could  have  a  clearer  view  of 
the  figure. 

"  It's  Bill  Crane ! "  he  said  to  himself,  with 
sudden  recognition.  "What's  he  up  to?" 

Tom  could  guess.  He  didn't  know  the  man's 
antecedents,  but  he  had  read  his  character  aright. 
He  was  instantly  on  the  alert.  Crane  evidently 
was  on  a  thiefs  errand,  and  was  likely  to  steal 
not  only  Miles's  money  but  Tom's.  Our  hero  was 
alive  to  the  emergency,  and  resolved  to  foil  him. 
He  had  his  revolver  with  him;  for  in  the  unset 
tled  state  of  society,  with  no  one  to  enforce  the 


TOM    NELSON    IN   CALIFORNIA.  45 

laws,  and  indeed  no  laws  to  enforce,  it  was  the 
custom  for  all  men  to  go  armed. 

Tom  was  not  long  left  in  doubt  as  to  Crane's 
intentions.  He  saw  him  cautiously  pulling  at 
something  in  the  tent,  and  felt  sure  that  it  was 
the  bag  of  treasure.  He  decided  that  the  time 
had  come  to  act. 

"  Put  that  back,"  he  exclaimed  in  boyish,  but 
dear,  commanding  tone. 

Bill  Crane  turned   suddenly,  panic-stricken. 

He  saw  Tom  standing  a  few  feet  from  him, 
with  a  revolver  in  his  hand. 

All  was  not  lost.  He  might,  he  thought,  intimi 
date  the  boy. 

"  Mind  your  business,  you  young  cub,"  he 
growled. 

"What  are  you   about?"   demanded  Tom. 

"I  am  going  to  sleep  with  Miles.  He  invited 
me.  Does  that  satisfy  you?" 

"  No,  it  doesn't,  for  I  know  that  it's  a  lie. 
You  are  here  to  rob  him." 

"  You'd  better  not  insult  me,  boy,  or  I'll  have 
your  life." 


46  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OX, 

"Get  up  this  instant  and  leave  the  tent,  or 
I'll  fire,"  said  Tom,  resolutely. 

"A  young  cub  like  you  can't  frighten  me.  That 
shooting-iron  of  yours  isn't  loaded,"  said  Bill 
Crane,  rather  uneasily. 

"  It'll  be  rather  a  bad  thing  for  you  to  take 
the  risk,"  said  Tom,  with  a  coolness  that  sur 
prised  himself,  for  the  situation  was  a  strange 
one  for  a  boy  brought  up  in  a  quiet  New  England 
farming  town. 

"What  do  you  want  of  me?"  growled  the  des 
perado,  uncomfortably,  for  he  was  satisfied  that 
the  weapon  was  loaded,  and  Tom  looked  as  if 
he  would  shoot. 

"  I  want  you  to  leave  that  tent  at  once,"  said 
Tom. 

"Suppose   I    don't." 

"Then  I   shall  fire   at  you." 

"  And   be   hung   for   attempted   murder." 

"I  think  I  could  explain  it,"  said  our  hero. 
"You  know  very  well  what  will  happen  to  you  if 
you  are  caught." 

Bill  Crane  did  know.     Hanging  was  the   penalty 


TOM    NKLSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  47 

for  theft  in  the  early  days  of  California,  and  he 
had  no  desire  to  swing  from  the  branch  of  a  tree. 

" You're  a  young  fool!"  he  said  roughly,  as 
he  rose  from  his  stooping  posture.  "  I  wanted  to 
ask  Miles  to  do  a  little  commission  for  me  in 
Frisco.  I  had  no  thought  of  robbing  him." 

"You  can  see  him  in  the  morning  about  it," 
said  Tom,  resolutely. 

"Til  be  even  with  you  for  this,"  said  the  foiled 
thief,  as  he  sullenly  obeyed  the  boy,  half-ashamed 
to  do  so. 

Tom  went  back  to  his  tent,  aroused  Ferguson, 
and  the  two  took  turns  in  guarding  the  tent  of 
Miles  during  the  night.  Tom  did  not  wish  to 
awaken  him,  for  he  needed  rest  on  the  eve  of  a 
long  f*nd  fatiguing  journey. 


48  THE     YOUNG    MINER; 


CHAPTER  V. 

MILES   SETS   OUT   ON   HIS    JOURNEY. 

WHEN  Miles  woke  up  in  the  morning  he  found 
Tom  beside  him. 

"  Hallo,  Tom  ! "  he  said,  in  some  surprise.  "  This 
is  an  early  call." 

"I  have  been  here  half  the  night,"  said  Tom, 
quietly. 

"How  is   that?" 

"I  was   afraid  you  would   be   robbed." 

"Did  you  have  any  particular  reason  for  fear, 
ing  it?"  asked  Miles,  quickly. 

Thereupon  Tom  described  his  chance  visit  of  the 
evening  before,  and  what  he  saw.  As  might  have 
been  expected,  John  Miles  was  indignant. 

"The  miserable  sneak!  I'd  like  to  wring  his 
neck,"  he  exclaimed.  "Did  you  say  he  had  his 
hand  upon  the  bag  of  gold-dust,  Tom?" 


TOM    NELSON    IN   CALIFORNIA.  49 

"  Yes ;  I  distinctly  saw  him  attempting  to  draw 
it  out  from  under  your  head." 

"  If  the  boys  knew  of  this,  Crane's  fate  would 
be  sealed.  A  thief  in  a  mining  camp  has  a  short 
shrift." 

"You  mean  he  would  be  hung?"  asked  Tom, 
in  surprise. 

"  Yes,  he  would  grace  a  limb  of  yonder  tree, 
and  I  am  not  sure  but  it  would  be  the  best  way 
to  dispose  of  him." 

Tom  shuddered. 

"It  would  be  a  terrible  fate,"  he  said.  "I 
should  like  to  see  him  punished,  but  I  don't  want 
him  hanged." 

"  Then  you  will  have  to  keep  your  mouth  shut. 
Once  let  the  boys  get  hold  of  what  happened, 
and  nothing  will  save  him." 

"Then  I   shall   keep   it  to   n^self." 

"I  will  see  Crane,  and  let  him  understand 
that  I  am  aware  of  the  attempt  he  made,"  said 
Miles. 

After  breakfast  he  came  upon  Crane  within  a 
few  rods  of  Missouri  Jack's  saloon. 


50  THE     YOUNG    MINER:    OR, 

11  Look  here,  Bill  Crane,"  said  Miles,  "  I've  got 
something  to  say  to  you." 

"What  is  it?"  returned  Crane,  sullenly,  look 
ing  ill  at  ease. 

"I  understand  you  favored  me  with  a  visit, 
last  night." 

"Who   told  you   so?" 

"Tom   Nelson." 

"  The  young  cub  had  better  mind  his  own 
business,"  growled  Crane,  in  a  menacing  tone. 

"  He  did  me  a  service  in  preventing  your  in 
tended  theft." 

"If  he   says   I   meant   to   rob   you,    he   lies!" 

"  Nevertheless,  if  he  should  make  public  what 
he  saw,  the  boys  would  be  likely  to  believe  him 
rather  than  you,"  said  Miles,  significantly. 

"Is   he   going  to  tell?"  asked  Crane,  nervously. 

"  He  has  told  me,  but  is  not  likely  to  speak 
of  it  to  others,  being  unwilling  that  you  should 
suffer  the  punishment  you  deserve." 

"He  is  very  kind,"  sneered  Bill  Crane,  but  he 
felt  very  much  relieved. 

"You  probably  owe  your  life   to   his  kindness," 


TO M    NELSON    IN   CALIFORNIA.  51 

said    Miles,   quietly.     "  He   te.ls    me  you   wish   me 

• 

to   do    something   for   }'ou   in    Frisco." 

"I've  changed  my  mind,"  said  Crane,  abruptly; 
"  I  may  go  there  myself,  soon." 

Miles    smiled. 

"I  thought  it  might  be  something  urgent,"  he 
said,  "  since  it  led  you  to  come  to  my  tent  at 
midnight." 

"  I  thought  you  would  be  starting  away  early 
this  morning." 

4 'Well  thought  of,  Bill  Crane;  but  it  is  only 
fair  to  tell  you  that  I  don't  believe  a  word  you 
say.  I  have  one  thing  to  say  to  you  before  I 
go,  and  you  had  better  bear  it  in  mind.  If  you 
harm  a  hair  of  Tom  Nelson's  head,  and  I  believe 
you  quite  capable  of  it,  I  will  never  rest  till  I 
have  found  you  out  and  punished  you  for  it." 

"I  am  not  afraid  of  you,  John  Miles,"  retorted 
Crane,  but  he  looked  uncomfortable. 

"You  will  have  cause  to  be,  if  you  injure 
Tom." 

Miles  walked  off,  leaiing  behind  him  a  bitter 
enemy. 


52  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OK, 

"  I   hate  him —  him  and  the  boy  too !"  muttered 

• 

Bill  Crane.  "  If  I  dared,  I  would  put  my  mark 
on  him  before  he  leaves  the  camp." 

But  Crane  did  not  dare.  He  knew  that  he  was 
in  a  very  critical  position.  His  safety  depended 
on  the  silence  of  two  persons  —  one  of  whom 
would  soon  be  gone.  He  was  not  aware  that 
Ferguson  also  knew  of  his  attempted  crime,  or 
the  danger  would  have  seemed  greater.  However 
much  he  thirsted  for  vengeance,  it  would  not  do 
to  gratify  it  now.  He  must  bide  his  time. 

Bill  Crane  was  cunning  as  well  as  malignant. 
He  decided  to  quiet  Tom's  suspicions  if  he  could, 
and  ensure  his  continued  silence,  by  an  affectation 
of  friendliness.  He  waited  till  he  saw  our  hero 
washing  dust  be}Tond  earshot  of  any  listeners, 
and  strolled  up  to  him. 

"  How  are  you  getting  on,  Tom?"  he  asked, 
with  an  appearance  of  friendliness. 

Tom  looked  up  quickly.  Considering  all  that 
had  happened,  he  was  somewhat  struck  by  Crane's 
effrontery. 

"  Fairly  well,"  he   answered   coldly. 


TOM    NELSON    IN   CALIFORNIA.  53 

"•  Shan't  I  relieve  you  a  few  minutes  ? "  pro 
posed  Crane. 

"No,    thank   you." 

"It's  pretty  hard  work,  and  don't  pay  as  well 
as  it  might.  I  think  California's  a  humbug,  for 
my  part." 

"Have  you  tried  washing  for  gold?"  asked 
Tom.  "I  haven't  seen  you  at  work." 

"Not  here.  I've  tried  it  elsewhere,  but  it's 
slow." 

"Then,  why  do  you  stay  here?"  asked  Tom, 
naturally. 

Crane   shrugged  his   shoulders. 

"Because  I  haven't  money  to  get  away,"  he 
said.  "I'm  waiting  for  something  to  turn  up. 
If  I  could  only  get  to  Frisco,  I  would  go  into 
some  business.  I  would  like  to  have  gone  with 
Miles." 

"Was  that  what  you  were  going  to  propose  to 
him,  last  night?"  asked  Tom,  dryly. 

"  Yes,  I  wanted  to  speak  to  him  on  that  sub 
ject.  I  had  a  great  mind  to  ask  him  to  lend 
me  a  little  money,  and  take  me  along  with  him. 


54  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

I  would  have  arranged  to  pay  him  soon  after  we 
reached  Frisco." 

Tom  knew  that  the  fellow  was  lying,  and  re 
mained  silent. 

"  You  made  a  little  mistake  about  my  inten 
tions,"  continued  Bill  Crane,  smoothly,  "but 
perhaps  it  was  natural  under  the  circumstances." 

Tom  thought  it  was,  but  still  preserved  silence, 
much  to  Crane's  discomfiture. 

Bill  Crane  eyed  him  sharply,  and  saw  his  in 
credulity,  but  for  that  he  cared  little,  if  only  he 
could  secure  his  silence. 

"  I  think  you  will  see  that  it  isn't  fair  to  me 
to  speak  of  this  matter,"  he  continued. 

"  I  had  made  up  my  mind  not  to  speak  of 
it,"  said  Tom.  "I  don't  want  to  get  you  into 
trouble." 

"Good-morning,  Mr.  Crane,"  said  Lawrence 
Peabody,  who  had  just  come  up. 

"Good-morning,  Peabody.  I  was  watching  our 
friend  Tom.  How  are  you  getting  on?" 

"I  haven't  done  anything  yet  to-day.  It's 
dirty  work.  I  don't  think  it's  fit  for  a  gentle- 


TOM    NELSON    IN   CALIFORNIA.  55 

man;  Tom,  there,  is  used  to  wcrk,  and  he  don't 
mind." 

"Shall  we  go  round   to  Jack's?" 

"All   right!" 

And   the  two  walked   away   together. 

44 1  am  sorry  Peabody  doesn't  keep  better  com 
pany,"  Tom  said  to  himself.  "  Bill  Crane  won't 
do  him  any  good.'* 


56  THE   TOVNO  MINER; 


CHAPTER    VI. 

BOBBED    IN    HIS    SLEEP. 

TOM  was  right  in  concluding  that  Bill  Crane's 
influence  over  Peabody  was  anything  but  good. 
The  young  Bostonian,  however,  was  not  long 
subjected  to  it.  During  the  night  following  John 
Giles's  departure,  the  little  settlement  at  River 
Bend  was  called  upon  to  deplore  the  loss  of  an 
eminent  member. 

In  brief,  somewhere  between  midnight  and  dawn 
Mr.  William  Crane  took  his  departure,  without 
the  ceremony  of  leave-taking.  Had  he  gone  alone 
no  one  perhaps  would  have  felt  any  violent  sor 
row,  but  he  took  with  him  a  horse  belonging  to 
Adam  Dietrich,  an  industrious  young  German, 
who  had  only  recently  arrived.  No  one  had  seen 
the  two  go  together,  but  it  was  only  natural  to 
suppose  that  Crane  had  spirited  away  the  horse. 

Dietrich   borrowed    a    horse,    and,    accompanied 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  5 1 

by  a  friend,  set  out  in  search  of  the  thief,  but 
returned  at  night  unsuccessful.  Had  it  been  wet 
weather,  it  might  have  been  possible  to  track 
the  fugitive ;  but  it  was  very  dry,  and  the  trail 
was  soon  lost.  It  was  almost  impossible  to  tell 
what  direction  Crane  would  choose,  and  continued 
pursuit  would  not  pay,  so  Adam  sadly  returned 
to  his  work. 

Little  doubt  was  entertained  among  the  miners 
that  Crane  was  responsible  for  the  loss  of  the 
horse.  Had  he  been  caught,  there  would  have 
been  small  chance  for  him,  so  generally  was  he 
pronounced  guilty.  A  few  of  his  companions, 
especially  Missouri  Jack,  defended  him. 

44  Bill  Crane  wouldn't  steal  a  horse  any  more 
than  I  would,"  said  Jack ;  and  there  were  those 
who  agreed  with  him  without  acquitting  Bill. 
*'  Bill  ain't  no  saint,  but  he  ain't  a  thief." 

Whether  Jack  believed  what  he  said,  admits 
of  a  doubt.  Crane  needed  a  different  advocate  to 
clear  him  from  suspicion. 

It  may  as  well  be  stated  that  Crane  did  steal 
the  horse.  He  had  a  decided  objection  to  walk- 


58  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    0.B, 

ing  as  long  as  he  could  ride,  and,  having  no 
animal  of  his  own,  annexed  the  property  of  his 
neighbor. 

He  had  two  motives  which  influenced  him  to 
leave  the  settlement.  First,  he  was  in  Tom's 
power,  and  he  was  by  no  means  certain  that  our 
hero  would  keep  silence  touching  his  night-attempt 
at  robbery.  In  the  second  place,  he  still  coveted 
the  bag  of  gold-dust  which  John  Miles  carried 
away  with  him.  He  had  been  prevented  from 
taking  it ;  but,  as  Miles  was  travelling  alone,  he 
foresaw  a  better  chance  of  success  if  he  should 
follow  on  his  track. 

How  or  under  what  circumstances  he  should 
make  the  new  attempt  he  left  to  be  decided 
later.  The  first  thing,  obviously,  was  to  overtake 
him. 

Crane  experienced  the  same  difficulty  in  tracking 
Miles  that  had  led  to  the  failure  of  his  own  pur 
suers.  It  was  only  on  the  fifth  da}T,  that,  as  he 
halted  his  steed  on  the  hillside,  and  cast  long 
glances  about  him,  he  caught  sight,  a  mile  away, 
of  the  object  of  his  pursuit.  He  could  not  mis- 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  59 

take  the  sturdy,  broad-shouldered  figure,  and  large, 
massive  head. 

"That's  Miles,  sure  enough!"  he  exclaimed, 
joyfully.  "  I  thought  I  had  missed  him,  but  I'm 
in  luck.  That  bag  must  be  mine." 

The  most  direct  course  was  to  ride  up  in  the 
fashion  of  a  highwayman,  and  demand  the  bag. 
But  Crane  did  not  mean  to  proceed  in  this  fashion. 
Physically,  though  not  a  weak  man,  he  was  not 
a  match  for  Miles,  and  he  knew  it.  Cunning 
must  supply  the  place  of  strength.  He  knew  that 
Miles  was  a  sound  sleeper,  and  could  think  of 
no  better  plan  than  repeating  the  visit  he  had 
made  in  camp.  It  was  already  late  in  the  after 
noon  when  he  caught  sight  of  the  sturdy  miner. 
It  was  his  policy  now  to  keep  him  in  sight,  but 
not  to  approach  near  enough  for  recognition. 
Once  seen,  Miles  would  be  on  his  guard,  and  the 
game  would  be  spoiled.  Crane  halted,  therefore, 
and  drew  back  within  the  shadow  of  the  trees, 
henceforth  advancing  cautiously. 

John  Miles  did  not  once  turn  back.  Had  he 
done  so,  it  is  quite  possible  that  he  might  have 


60  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

caught  a  glimpse  of  his  pursuer.  He  had  travelled 
since  morning,  and  his  faithful  horse  was  begin 
ning  to  show  signs  of  fatigue. 

"  You  are  tired,  my  poor  Dick,"  he  said  kindly, 
stroking  the  horse.  "  You  deserve  supper  and 
rest,  and  you  shall  have  it." 

Dick  appeared  to  understand  what  his  rider 
said,  for  he  gave  a  short  neigh  of  satisfaction. 

John  Miles  looked  around  him.  Just  ahead 
was  a  large  tree,  under  whose  broad  branches 
it  would  be  pleasant  to  recline.  Not  far  away 
was  a  slender  mountain-stream  trickling  over  the 
rocks.  Nothing  could  have  been  better. 

Miles  slid  from  his  horse  and  made  prepara 
tions  to  encamp  for  the  night,  first  leading  his 
faithful  steed  to  the  stream,  where  he  quenched 
his  thirst.  Then  he  brought  out  his  slender 
stock  of  provisions  and  partook  of  supper." 

"It's  pleasant  to  rest  after  a  long  day's  ride," 
soliloquized  Miles.  "  I  must  have  made  forty 
miles  to-day.  I  could  easily  have  gone  farther,  had 
it  been  on  the  prairies  at  home,  but  these  mountain- 
roads  are  hard  upon  man  and  beast," 


TOM    NELSON    IN   CALIFORNIA.  61 

After  supper  Miles  threw  himself  upon  the 
ground,  and  his  mind  became  busy  with  his 
plans  and  prospects. 

"I  shall  reach  Frisco  in  three  days,  according 
to  my  calculations,"  he  reflected;  "and  then,  first 
of  all,  I  must  attend  to  Tom's  commission. 
That's  a  good  boy,  Tom.  I  wish  he  were  here 
with  me  to-night.  Why  didn't  I  urge  him  to  come 
with  me?  He  is  not  doing  very  well  where  he 
is,  and  there  are  plenty  of  chances  for  a  smart 
boy  in  the  city.  If  I  find  any  opening  for  him, 
I  will  send  for  him.  I  don't  know  what  gives 
me  such  an  interest  in  that  boy,  but  I'd  sooner 
do  him  a  good  turn  than  any  man  I  know.  I 
hope  that  thief  Crane  won't  play  any  trick  upon 
him.  If  he  does,  I  swear  I'll  get  even  with 
him." 

John  Miles  little  suspected  that  he  himself 
stood  in  more  peril  from  the  man  he  denounced 
than  our  hero.  Had  he  known  that  Bill  Crane 
was  lurking  in  the  vicinity,  he  would  scarcely 
have  courted  slumber  so  fearlessly. 

Physical    fatigue    and    the    stillness    of    outward 


62  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

nature  speedily  brought  on  a  feeling  of  drowsi 
ness  that  was  not  long  in  bringing  sleep.  Twilight 
had  hardly  given  place  to  night  when  our  trav 
eller  had  become  "to  dumb  forgetfulness  a  prey." 

This  was  what  Bill  Crane  had  been  waiting 
for.  He  rightly  calculated  that  Miles  would  soon 
be  asleep.  He  inferred  this  from  his  own  feelings. 
He,  too,  had  travelled  many  miles,  and  felt 
drows}T ;  but,  with  the  object  he  had  in  view 
near  accomplishment,  he  was  able  to  resist  the 
promptings  of  nature. 

Crane  rode  till  he  was  but  a  few  rods  from 
Miles,  then  dismounted  and  tethered  his  horse. 
With  stealthy  step  he  approached  the  sleeper. 
With  satisfaction  he  regarded  the  upturned  face 
of  the  man  whom,  if  waking,  he  would  have 
feared,  and  noted  his  deep,  regular  breathing. 

"You  wouldn't  sleep  so  sound,  John  Miles," 
he  said  to  himself,  "if  }Tou  knew  I  was  standing 
over  you.  How  easily  I  could  put  a  bullet  into 
you !  But  then  I  wouldn't  have  the  satisfaction 
of  anticipating  your  disappointment  when  you 
wake  up  and  find  your  treasure  gone!  No,  you 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  63 

may  live.  I  have  no  use  for  your  life,  that  is, 
if  you  don't  wake  up.  In  that  case,  I  may 
have  to  kill  you." 

The  bag  of  gold-dust  lay  under  the  head  of 
Miles.  He  knew  of  no  better  place  for  it,  cal 
culating  that  any  attempt  at  removal  would  arouse 
him.  So  it  might  under  ordinar}r  circumstances, 
but  unusual  fatigue  made  him  sleep  like  a  log. 
Bill  Crane  kneeled  down,  and  by  delicate  man 
ipulation  succeeded  in  drawing  the  bag  from  be 
neath  the  sleeper's  head.  Lest  the  removal  of 
the  pillow  might  awaken  Miles,  he  replaced  it  by 
a  coat,  which  he  folded  up  so  as  to  produce 
about  the  same  elevation  above  the  ground. 

The  transfer  was  made,  without  in  the  least 
interfering  with  the.  slumbers  of  the  tired  traveller. 

Bill  Crane  rose  to  his  feet,  triumphant.  Not 
only  was  he  possessed  of  a  sum  of  which  he 
stood  sorely  in  need,  but  he  had  the  satisfaction 
of  outwitting  his  adversary.  Moreover,  he  had 
obtained  Tom's  money  in  addition,  and  thus 
revenged  himself  upon  the  boy  who  had  once 
thwarted  him. 


64  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OJ2, 

"  Good-by,  John  Miles ! "  he  said,  lifting  his 
hat  mockingly.  "Sorry  to  inconvenience  you,  but 
can't  help  it.  A  long  sleep,  and  pleasant 
dreams ! " 

Thus  speaking,  he  turned  away,  unconscious 
that  he  had  been  observed  by  a  third  party. 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  65 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE   HEATHEN   CHINEE. 

THIS  third  party  belonged  to  that  peculiar  race 
Immortalized  by  Bret  Harte.  He  was  a  heathen 
Chinee !  His  face  was  smooth  and  bland,  and 
wore  an  expression  of  childlike  innocence  which 
was  well  calculated  to  deceive.  Ah  Sin  possessed 
the  usual  craft  of  his  countrymen,  and  under 
stood  very  well  how  to  advance  his  worldly  for 
tunes.  He  belonged  to  the  advance  guard  of 
immigrants  from  the  Central  Flowery  Kingdom, 
and  with  a  companion,  Ah  Jim,  was  engaged  in 
mining  in  the  immediate  neighborhood.  His  gains 
had  not  been  great  thus  far,  but  then  his  ex 
penses  had  amounted  to  little  or  nothing.  He 
and  his  friend  had  brought  two  bags  of  rice  from 
San  Francisco,  and  they  were  well  satisfied  with 
this  solitary  article  of  diet. 

Ah   Sin,   from  a  distance,   had   seen  John   Miles 


66  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    0JZ, 

encamp  for  the  night,  and,  impelled  by  curiosity 
or  a  more  questionable  motive,  had  approached  to 
take  a  view  of  the  stranger.  Before  reaching  him 
he  caught  sight  of  Bill  Crane,  and  his  almond 
e}Tes  straightway  watched  the  movements  of  that 
gentleman,  while  he  himself  kept  sufficiently  in 
the  background  to  escape  observation. 

When  he  saw  Crane  stealthily  remove  the  bag 
from  under  the  sleeper's  head,  he  became  very 
much  interested,  and  a  bland  smile  overspread 
his  face,  while  his  cue  vibrated  gently  with  ap 
proval. 

"  'Melican  man  very  smart,"  he  murmured  to 
himself.  u  He  steal  his  friend's  money  while  he 
sleep." 

My  readers  are  probably  aware  that  our  Mon 
golian  visitors  find  a  difficulty  in  pronouncing  the 
letter  r,  and  invariably  replace  it  by  I. 

11  Suppose  other  'Melican  man  wake  up,  he 
make  a  low,"  continued  Ah  Sin,  softly. 

But  the  other  'Melican  man  did  not  wake  up, 
and  Bill  Crane  got  away  with  his  booty,  as  we 
already  know.  Cautiously  the  Chinaman  followed 


TOM   NELSON   IN  CALIFORNIA.  67 

him,  and  ascertained  where  he  intended  to  pass 
the  night.  It  was  at  a  moderate  distance  from 
the  cabin  which  the  two  Chinamen  had  selected 
for  their  mining  camp. 

Bill  Crane  jumped  from  his  horse,  stretched 
his  limbs,  and  gaped. 

"I'm  powerful  sleepy,"  he  soliloquized.  "I 
can't  go  any  farther  to-night.  I  don't  like  to 
rest  so  near  Miles,  but  I  can  be  on  the  road 
before  he  wakes  up.  I  guess  it  will  be  safe 
enough." 

Crane,  having  made  up  his  mind  to  rest,  rolled 
himself  up  in  his  blanket,  and  stretched  himself 
out,  first  tying  his  horse  to  a  sapling.  The 
place  was  retired,  and  he  felt  moderately  con 
fident  that,  even  if  he  overslept  himself,  he  would 
not  be  discovered. 

"  I'd  like  to  see  Miles  when  he  discovers  his 
loss,"  he  said  to  himself,  smiling  at  the  thought. 
"  He'll  be  ready  to  tear  his  hair,  and  won't  have 
the  least  idea  how  the  gold-dust  was  spirited 
away.  You  excel  me  in  brute  strength,  John 
Miles,  but  one  thing  I  am  pretty  sure  of,  you 


68  THE   YOUNG  MINER;  ojz, 

haven't  got  013'  brains,"  and  he  complacently  tapped 
his  forehead. 

*'  There  must  be  at  least  two  hundred  dollars' 
worth  in  that  bag,"  he  reflected.  '*  It  isn't  a 
great  haul,  but  it  will  do.  It  will  last  me  some 
time,  and  perhaps  start  me  in  something  in  Frisco. 
Bill  Crane,  you've  done  a  good  stroke  of  business 
to-day.  You  are  entitled  to  a  good  night's  rest, 
and  you  shall  have  it." 

First,  however,  he  concealed  the  bag.  He  did 
not  think  it  safe  to  place  it  under  his  head  as 
Miles  had  done.  He  scooped  a  hole  in  the  earth 
near  by,  deposited  the  bag,  replaced  the  dirt, 
and  spread  a  few  leaves  over  the  top. 

"No  one  will  think  of  searching  there,"  thought 
Crane.  "  Even  if  Miles  himself  surprises  me  here, 
he  won't  suspect  anything." 

Bill  Crane  felt  that  he  was  unusually  sharp  and 
crafty,  and  felt  great  contempt  for  the  stupidity 
of  the  man  whom  he  had  overreached.  The  time 
was  not  far  off  when  he  had  occasion  to  doubt 
whether  he  had  not  overrated  his  own  artfulness. 

A    pair  of   almond    eyes,   lighted    up   with   mild 


TOM    NELSON    IN   CALIFORNIA.  69 

wonder,  followed  closely  all  the  movements  of 
William  Crane.  When  the  bag  was  concealed, 
and  Crane  lay  down  to  sleep,  the  Chinaman  nodded 
blandly,  and  remarked  softly,  "  All  light!  Me 
go  find  Ah  Jim." 

Ah  Sin  had  to  walk  but  half  a  mile  to  find 
the  partner  of  his  toils.  Ah  Sin  and  Ah  Jim, 
though  not  related  to  each  other,  were  as  like  as 
two  peas.  The  same  smooth  face,  the  same  air 
of  childlike  confidence,  the  same  almond  eyes,  a 
pigtail  of  the  same  length,  a  blouse  and  loose 
pants  of  the  same  coarse  cloth,  were  character 
istic  of  both. 

When  the  two  met,  they  straightway  plunged  Into 
a  conversation  in  which  Ah  Sin  had  most  to  say. 

Ah  Jim  listened  attentively,  and  was  evidently 
well  pleased  with  what  his  companion  said.  I 
am  afraid  my  young  friends  are  not  well  up  in 
the  Chinese  tongue,  and  would  not  understand  the 
conversation,  however  faithfully  reported.  They 
must  infer  what  it  was  from  what  followed. 

The  two  Chinamen  bent  their  steps  towards  the 
resting-place  of  Bill  Crane.  Ah  Sin  carried  a  bag 


70  THE    YOUNG  MINER;  OR, 

\ 
of    about  the    same   size    as  the    one    Crane    had 

stolen,  which  he  carefully  filled  with  sandy  earth. 
"With  stealthy  steps  these  two  innocent  heathen 
drew  near  the  spot,  and  looked  searchingly  at  the 
recumbent  form  of  the  eminent  representative  of 
American  civilization. 

Ah  Sin  turned  to  Ah  Jim  with  a  pleased  smile. 

"All  light!"  he  said.     "'Melican  man  asleep." 

A  similar  smile  lighted  up  the  face  of  Ah  Jim. 
"  'Melican  man  sleep  sound,"  he  said;  "no  wake 
up." 

Quite  unaware  of  the  honor  done  him  by  the 
special  Chinese  embassy  which  had  taken  this 
early  opportunity  to  call  upon  him,  Bill  Crane 
slept  on.  There  was  a  smile  upon  his  upturned 
face  as  if  he  were  dreaming  of  something  pleas 
ant.  He  should  have  been  a  prey  to  remorse,  if  his 
conscience  had  done  its  duty,  but  Bill's  conscience 
had  grown  callous,  and  gave  him  very  little  trouble. 
It  was  only  when  he  was  found  out  that  he  became 
sensible  of  a  kind  of  mental  discomfort  which  came 
as  near  to  remorse  as  he  was  capable  of  feeling. 

Reassured  by  the  deep,  regular  breathing  of  the 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  71 

sleeper,  Ah  Sin  and  his  friend  proceeded  to  their 
work.  The  former  drew  a  slender  stiletto-like 
knife  from  a  fan  which  protruded  above  the  collar 
of  his  blouse,  and,  stooping  down,  began  skilfully 
to  remove  the  dirt  which  covered  the  bag  of  gold- 
dust.  From  time  to  time  he  stole  a  glance  at 
the  sleeper  to  mark  the  first  indications  of  return 
ing  consciousness.  It  was  well  for  Crane  that  his 
sleep  continued.  A  Chinaman  does  not  set  a 
high  value  upon  human  life,  and  the  long  stiletto 
would  have  been  plunged  into  the  'Melican  man 
before  he  was  well  aware  of  what  was  going  on. 
Bill  Crane's  good  genius  saved  him  from  this  sud 
den  exit  by  continuing  the  profound  slumber  in 
which  he  was  repairing  the  ravages  of  fatigue. 

The  Chinamen  therefore  met  with  no  interrup 
tion  in  their  work.  They  drew  out  from  its  place 
of  concealment  the  buried  bag,  and  emptying  the 
contents  of  their  own  poured  into  it  the  combined 
treasures  of  Miles  and  poor  Tom.  Then  they 
iilled  the  first  bag  with  the  worthless  dust  which 
they  had  brought  with  them,  and  carefully  reburiecJ 
it  in  the  ground. 


72  THE     YOUNG    MINER',    OR> 

They  did  their  work  so  carefully  and  well  that 
no  one  was  likely  to  suspect  that  the  bag  had 
been  tampered  with. 

Having  done  their  work,  Ah  Sin  and  his  friend 
smiled  upon  each  other  in  bland  satisfaction, 
which  was  further  expressed  by  a  low  guttural 
chuckle. 

"All  light,"  said  Ah   Sin,   with   a   nod. 

44  All  light,"  chimed  in  Ah  Jim,  nodding  in 
return. 

A  consciousness  of  lofty  virtue  could  not  have 
produced  a  happier  expression  upon  any  face  than 
appeared  on  the  mild  countenance  of  the  Chinamen. 

"'Melican  man  much  supplised  when  he  wake 
up,"  remarked  Ah  Jim. 

"  Chinamen  make  much  money,"  returned  his 
friend. 

The  two  enterprising  visitors  returned  to  their 
quarters,  and  concealed  their  booty  in  a  safe 
place.  Then  they  too  lay  down  and  slept  the  sleep 
of -confiding  innocence. 

Bret  Harte  has  not  told  us  whether  the  heathen 
Chinee  has  a  conscience ;  but  if  he  has,  neither 


TOM   NELSON    IN   CALIFORNIA.  73 

Ah  Sin  nor  Ah  Jim  experienced  any  inconven 
ience  from  its  possession.  Neither  they  nor  Bill 
perhaps  can  fairly  be  taken  as  fair  representatives 
of  the  different  religious  systems  under  which 
they  were  trained.  Bill  Crane  could  hardly  claim 
any  superiority  over  the  heathen  Chinee  in  point 
of  honesty. 


74  TUB    YOUNG  MINER; 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
BILL  CRANE'S  DISAGREEABLE  DISCOVERT. 

IT  was  five  o'clock  in  the  morning  when  Bill 
Crane  opened  his  eyes.  He  felt  refreshed  by  his 
night's  sleep,  yet  under  ordinary  circumstances 
would  have  deferred  getting  up  for  at  least  an  hour. 
But  the  consciousness  that  he  had  a  treasure  to 
guard,  and  the  knowledge  that  he  was  at  any 
moment  liable  to  be  called  to  account  by  the  real 
owner,  whose  camp  was  scarcely  more  than  a  mile 
distant,  aroused  him  to  exertion. 

"  I  must  get  away  while  John  Miles  is  still  asleep," 
he  bethought  himself.  u  Let  me  get  to  Frisco  first, 
and  I  can  at  once  dispose  of  it,  and  he  will  never 
find  me  out." 

Crane  did  not  wait  to  prepare  breakfast.  That 
he  could  take  on  the  road  an  hour  or  two  later, 
when  he  felt  safe  from  interruption.  He  rose  and 
shook  himself.  This  was  his  scanty  toilet.  Next 


TOM    NELSON    IN   CALIFORNIA.  75 

he  must  take  the  bag  from  its  place  of  concealment, 
and  then  he  could  commence  his  journey. 

While  uncovering  the  bag,  Crane  did  not  discover 
that  it  had  been  tampered  with,  partly  because  it 
was  still  there.  It  was  natural  to  suppose  that,  if 
discovered  by  a  third  party,  it  would  be  carried 
away.  He  did  not  even  open  the  bag,  not  thinking 
it  necessary. 

"  John  Miles  hasn't  waked  up  yet,"  he  said  to 
himself  with  a  smile.  "  When  he  does,  there'll  be 
some  swearing,  I'll  be  bound.  You're  a  good  boy, 
John  Miles,  but  you  ain't  so  smart  as  you  think  you 
are.  I  think  I  have  got  the  start  of  you  this 
time." 

Bill   Crane   rode   off  smiling. 

His  course  led  him  by  the  camp  of  the  Chinamen. 
Early  as  it  was  they  were  astir.  Ah  Sin  saw  the 
rider,  and  at  once  recognized  him  as  the  man  he 
had  robbed.  How  could  Crane  know  that  those 
pleasant-faced  barbarians  had  served  him  such  a 
trick? 

"Hallo,  Chinamen!"  he  said  aloud.  "Have 
they  got  out  here  already?  I'll  speak  to  them. 


76  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

Hallo,  John ! "  he  said,  halting  his  horse,  for  even 
then  every  Chinaman  was  John. 

"How  do,  John?"  replied  Ah  Sin,  smiling 
blandly. 

"My  name  isn't  John,  but  no  matter.  What 
are  you  two  doing?" 

"  Looking  for  gold,"   was   the  reply. 

"Do  you    find   any?" 

"Velly  little.     Bad  place." 

44  Have  you   been  in   San   Francisco?" 

"Yes,  John." 

"Why   didn't   you   stay   there?" 

"  Too  many  Chinamen  —  too  little  washee,  — 
washee." 

"What  have  you  got  in  the  way  of  provisions? 
Mine  are  stale.  I'd  like  to  buy  some  of  you." 

"  We   have  got   a   little  lice,  John." 

"  Got  a  little  what?  Oh,  I  know:  you  mean  rice. 
Why  don't  you  pronounce  your  English  better?" 

"  Because   Chinamen   not  'Melican   men." 

"  Then  I  suppose  I  may  as  well  be  moving  on, 
as  I  can't  get  anj'thing  out  of  you.  Oh,  have  you 
got  any  tea,  John?" 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  77 

"Yes,   John." 

4 'Got   any   made?" 

Ah  Sin  produced  a  cup,  for  he  and  his  friend 
had  just  prepared  their  breakfast,  and  being  warm, 
Bill  Crane  gulped  it  down  with  a  relish. 

"  After  all,  a  man  needs  some  warm  drink  in 
the  morning,"  he  said  to  himself.  "  How  much  to 
pay,  John?" 

"Nothing,  John.     'Melican  man  welcome." 

"John,  you're  a  gentleman,  or  rather  both  of 
you  are  gentlemen,  even  if  you  are  heathens.  I'll 
remember  you  in  my  prayers." 

The  eminent  Christian,  Bill  Crane,  rode  off  from 
the  Chinese  camp,  calmly  confident  of  his  moral 
superiority  to  the  two  benighted  heathen  whom  he 
left  behind  him.  Whether  he  remembered  his  prom 
ise  to  intercede  for  them  in  prayer  is  a  little  doubt 
ful,  or  would  have  been,  if  he  had  had  occasion  to 
pray  himself.  It  is  to  be  feared  that  prayer  and 
William  Crane  had  long  been  strangers. 

As  Crane  rode  away,  the  two  Chinamen  exchanged 
glances.  A  gentle  smile  lighted  up  their  yellow 
faces,  and  they  were  doubtless  thinking  of  some- 


78  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OS, 

thing  pleasant.  They  exchanged  a  few  guttural 
remarks  which  I  should  like  to  be  able  to  translate, 
for  the}7  doubtless  referred  to  Bill  Crane,  whom  they 
had  kindly  supplied  with  a  cup  of  tea  gratis.  Yet, 
perhaps,  considering  all  things,  it  was  the  dearest 
cup  of  tea  Crane  had  ever  drank,  since  it  was  the 
only  return  he  got  for  a  bag  of  gold-dust  worth 
over  two  hundred  dollars.  But  there  is  an  old 
saying,  "  Where  ignorance  is  bliss,  'tis  folly  to  be 
wise."  Crane  was  just  as  happy  as  if  the  bag  really 
contained  gold-dust.  But  this  happy  ignorance  was 
not  to  last  long. 

After  riding  five  or  six  miles  our  traveller 
thought  he  might  venture  to  dismount  for  rest 
and  refreshment.  He  selected  as  his  breakfast- 
table  the  green  sward  beside  a  sparkling  mountain 
streamlet.  He  dismounted,  permitting  his  horse 
to  graze  while  he  took  out  the  stale  provisions 
which  must  constitute  his  morning  meal.  They 
were  not  very  palatable,  and  Crane  sighed  for 
the  breakfasts  of  old,  the  memory  of  which  at 
this  moment  was  very  tantalizing.  But  he  com 
forted  himself  with  the  thought  that  he  had  the 


TOM   NELSON   IN    CALIFORNIA.  79 

means  of  making  up  for  his  enforced  self-denial 
when  he  reached  San  Francisco. 

This  naturally  led  him  to  open  the  bag,  and 
feast  his  eyes  over  his  easily  obtained  wealth. 
He  untied  the  string,  and  with  a  smile  of  pleased 
anticipation  peered  at  the  contents. 

His  face  changed  suddenly. 

Was  he  dreaming?  In  place  of  the  shining 
dust,  his  eyes  rested  on — sand. 

He  hastily  thrust  in  his  finger,  and  stirred  the 
grains.  But  nothing  else  was  to  be  discovered. 
The  bag  contained  nothing  but  worthless  sand. 

Crane  stared  at  the  deceptive  bag  in  the  most 
lugubrious  astonishment.  Surely  the  bag  contained 
gold-dust  when  he  concealed  it.  There  could  be 
no  doubt  on  that  point,  for  he  had  opened  it  and 
seen  the  contents  for  himself.  But  in  that  case, 
how  could  such  a  change  have  been  effected  in 
one  night?  It  had  not  been  touched;  so,  at  any 
rate,  he  believed.  He  had  found  it  in  the  morning 
in  the  exact  spot  where  he  had  placed  it  over 
night,  and  }Tet  — 

Bill  Crane    took    another  look    at    the    contents 


80  THE     YOUNG     MINER;    OR, 

of  the  bag,  hoping  that  he  had  been  deceived  by 
some  ocular  delusion,  but  the  second  examina 
tion  brought  him  no  comfort.  He  sank  back, 
feeling  in  a  state  of  mental  and  bodily  collapse. 

Never  was  poor  thief  so  utterly  bewildered  as 
Bill  Crane.  He  could  almost  believe  that  some 
magical  transformation  had  been  practised  at  his 
expense.  Was  it  possible,  he  thought,  that  John 
Miles,  discovering  his  loss,  had  visited  him,  and 
played  this  trick  upon  him?  He  could  not  believe 
this.  It  was  not  in  accordance  with  John's  direct, 
straightforward  nature.  Instead  of  acting  in  this 
secret  manner,  he  would  have  sternly  charged 
Crane  with  the  robbery,  and  punished  him  on  the 
spot.  Leaving  him  out  of  the  account,  then,  the 
mystery  deepened.  It  never  occurred  to  Crane  to 
suspect  the  Chinamen  who  had  so  hospitably  fur 
nished  him  with  a  cup  of  tea.  Even  if  they  had 
come  into  his  mind,  he  would  have  been  puzzled 
to  account  for  their  knowledge  of  his  having  the 
bag  in  his  possession. 

Bill  Crane  was  decidedly  unhappy.  His  glowing 
anticipations  of  prosperity,  based  upon  the  capital 


TOM   NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  81 

t>ontained  in  the  bag,  were  rudely  broken  in  upon, 
and  the  airy  fabric  of  his  hopes  dashed  to  the 
ground.  He  felt  that  fortune  had  been  unkind  -- 
that  he  was  a  deeply  injured  man.  Had  his 
claim  to  the  stolen  property  been  the  best  possi 
ble,  he  could  not  have  felt  the  injustice  of  fate 
more  keenly. 

"It's  alwa}Ts  the  way!"  he  exclaimed  in  deep 
dejection.  "  I  always  was  unlucky.  Just  as  I 
thought  L  was  on  my  feet  again,  this  cursed  gold- 
dust  turns  to  sand.  Here  am  I  out  in  the 
wilderness  without  an  ounce  to  my  name.  I  don't 
know  what  to  do.  I'd  give  a  good  deal,  if  I 
had  it,  to  find  out  what  became  of  the  gold- 
dust." 

As  he  spoke,  Crane,  in  a  fit  of  ill-temper, 
kicked  the  unlucky  bag  to  a  distance,  and  slowly 
and  disconsolately  mounting  his  horse,  plodded  on 
his  way.  All  his  cheerfulness  was  gone.  It  was 
some  comfort,  but  still  scant,  to  think  that  John 
Miles  was  as  unlucky  as  himself.  Both  had  be 
come  penniless  tramps,  and  were  alike  the  sport 
of  Fortune.  There  was  a  difference  in  respect  to 


82  THE    TO  UNO  MINER;  OR, 

their  desert,  however.  John  Miles  may  rightly 
claim  the  reader's  sympathy,  while  Bill  Crane 
must  be  considered  to  have  met  with  a  disaster 
which  he  richly  deserved. 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  83 


CHAPTER  IX. 

CLEANED   OUT. 

JOIIN  MILES  slept  long,  and  awoke  feeling  re 
freshed  and  cheerful.  He  had  a  healthy  organiza 
tion,  and  never  fulled  to  eat  and  sleep  well. 
Like  Crane,  he  had  .  no  toilet  to  make,  but 
sprang  to  his  feet  already  dressed. 

His  first  thought  was  naturally  of  his  treasure. 
His  heart  gave  a  quick  bound  when  he  failed  to 
discover  it  in  the  place  where  he  remembered  to 
have  put  it.  In  dismay  he  instituted  a  search, 
which',  of  course,  proved  unavailing. 

44 Who  could  have  taken  it?"  thought  Miles, 
large  drops  of  perspiration  gathering  upon  his 
forehead. 

All  about  him  was  loneliness.  He  could  see 
no  signs  of  life.  Yet  the  bag  could  not  have 
gone  away  of  itself.  There  was  certainly  human 
agency  in  the  matter. 

Miles    confessed    to    himself   with    sadness    that 


84  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    O72, 

he  had  been  imprudent  to  leave  the  bag  where 
it  would  naturally  excite  the  cupidity  of  any 
passing  adventurer.  That  it  must  have  been 
taken  by  such  a  one  seemed  evident.  In  that 
case,  the  chance  of  recovering  it  seemed  slender 
enough.  Nevertheless,  John  Miles  decided  to 
make  an  effort,  hopeless  as  it  was,  to  discover 
the  whereabouts  of  his  lost  property. 

"If  it  had  been  mine,  I  wouldn't  have  cared 
BO  much,"  he  said  to  himself,  with  a  sigh ;  "  but 
poor  Tom's  money  is  gone  too.  I  will  make  it 
up  to  him  if  I  live,  but  I  am  afraid  his  father 
will  be  inconvenienced  by  the  delay." 

Miles  made  preparations  for  his  departure,  and 
strode  away,  looking  searchingly  to  the  right  and 
left  in  search  of  something  that  might  throw 
light  upon  his  loss.  Presently  he  espied  the  two 
Chinamen.  Could  they  have  taken  it?  He  would 
at  any  rate  speak  to  them. 

"Good-morning,  John,  "  he  said,  when  he  came 
within  hearing  distance. 

Ah  Sin  bobbed  his  head,  and  repeated  "  Good- 
morning,  John." 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  85 

"Do  you  live   here?" 

"Yes,   we  washee-washee  for   gold." 

"Does   an3Tone   else   live   near   by?" 

The  two  inclined  their  heads,  and  answered  in 
the  negative. 

"Have  you  seen  anyone  pass  last  night  or 
this  morning?" 

"Yes,"  answered  Ah  Sin.  "'Melican  man  staj 
all  nightee  —  over  there.  Chinaman  give  him  * 
cup  of  tea  this  morning." 

"How  long  ago?"   asked  Miles,   eagerly. 

"  Two  hours,"   answered   Ah  Jim. 

"In   what  direction   did   he  go?" 

The   two   Chinamen   readily   told  him. 

Miles  decided  to  tell  them  of  the  loss  of  his  bag 
of  gold-dust.  Possibly  they  could  throw  some  light 
upon  his  loss. 

"  Some  one  stole  a  small  bag  of  dust  from  me 
last  night,"  he  said.  "I  suspect  it  was  the  man 
you  describe.  Did  he  appear  to  have  any  such 
article  with  him?" 

"  Yes,"  answered  Ah  Sin,  who,  with  natural 
cunning,  saw  that  this  information  would  divert 


86  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

suspicion  from  them.  "  It  was  so  large,"  indi 
cating  the  size  with  his  hands. 

Of  course  his  description  was  accurate,  for  he 
had  very  good  reason  to  know  the  size  of  the 
bag. 

"He  must  have  been  the  thief,"  said  Miles, 
eagerly.  "  In  what  direction  did  you  say  he 
went?" 

Ah  Sin  pointed  to   the   west. 

"I  will  follow  him.  It  is  on  my  way.  If  I 
catch  the  villain,  it  will  be  the  worse  for  him/' 

"  He  velly  bad  man,"  said  Ah  Sin,  sympa- 
thizingly. 

"That's  where  you  are  right,  my  heathen 
friend.  Well,  good-morning,  John.  I  am  much 
obliged  to  you  for  your  information." 

"  Velly  welcome,   John." 

As  John  Miles  rode  away,  Ah  Sin  turned  to 
his  friend  Ah  Jim,  and  remarked, — 

"  S'pose   he   catch  him,   he  kill  him." 

44 All  lightee!"  returned  Ah  Jim.  "He  velly 
bad  man,  he  thief." 

The  two  Chinamen   exchanged  glances.     If  they 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  87 

had  been  white  men,  there  would  have  been  a 
smile  or  a  wink,  but  these  children  of  Confucius 
looked  so  serenely  virtuous,  so  innocent  of  guile, 
that  the  most  experienced  detective  would  have 
seen  nothing  in  their  faces  indicating  any  guilty 
knowledge  of  the  lost  treasure.  But,  guileless 
as  they  seemed,  they  had  proved  more  than  a 
match  for  Bill  Crane  and  his  victim. 

John  Miles  rode  away  with  a  faint  hope  that 
he  might  overtake  the  man,  whoever  he  might 
be,  who  had  stolen  his  precious  bag.  In  due 
time  he  reached  the  spot  where  Crane  had  ex 
amined  the  bag,  and  on  discovering  its  worth 
less  contents,  had  thrown  it  away.  The  thief 
had  not  taken  the  trouble  to  empty  it. 

When  Miles  saw  it  he  hurried  to  it,  hoping 
he  might  find  some  of  the  treasure  inside.  Of 
course  he  was  disappointed,  and  at  the  same  time 
bewildered. 

uThis  is  certainly  my  bag,"  he  said  to  him 
self.  "  Here  are  my  initials,  J.  M.  Then  there 
are  other  marks  well  known  to  me.  I  could  swear 


88  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OJJ, 

to  it  anywhere.  But  how  does  it  happen  that  it  is 
full  of  sand,  and  why  has  the  thief  thrown  it 
away?  That  beats  me!" 

Miles  decided  that  for  some  reason  unknown 
the  thief  had  transferred  its  contents  to  some 
other  bag  —  perhaps  his  own  —  and  then  had  dis 
carded  the  original  one,  in  wanton  humor  filling 
it  instead  with  sand. 

"He  may  have  been  afraid  it  would  be  found 
on  him,"  thought  Miles.  "  The  marks  on  the  bag 
would  have  been  evidence  enough  to  condemn 
him.  By  throwing  away  my  bag  he  thinks  himself 
safe." 

His  solution  of  the  puzzle  was  ingenious,  but 
as  we  know  he  erred  in  two  respects.  Bill  Crane 
had  not  filled  the  bag  with  sand  and  thrown  it 
away  from  prudential  considerations,  nor  had  he 
profited  by  the  theft  he  had  committed.  He  had 
been  as  badly  outwitted  as  his  victim,  and  the 
profit  had  gone  to  the  bland  and  obliging  China 
men,  who  had  thus  far  escaped  suspicion. 

John  Miles  slackened  his  rein,  and  thought 
seriously  and  sadly  of  the  position  to  which  he 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  89 

was  reduced.  What  was  he  to  do?  He  was,  in 
the  expressive  language  of  the  country,  "cleaned 
out,"  and  brought  to  a  pass  where  he  must  begin 
life  over  again,  with  the  disadvantage  of  being 
seventy-five  dollars  in  debt,  for  he  was  resolved 
that  Tom's  loss  should  be  paid  back  to  the 
uttermost  penny. 

Presently   philosophy   came   to  his   aid. 

"It  might  have  been  worse,"  he  reflected. 
"Two  hundred  dollars  is  too  large  a  sum  to 
lose,  but  it  wont  take  long  to  make  up  if  I 
have  any  sort  of  luck.  I  wish  I  were  in  San 
Francisco.  It  may  trouble  me  to  get  there  with 
out  means." 

When  misfortune  comes  it  is  always  best  to 
look  it  manfully  in  the  face,  and  not  to  shrink 
from  or  over  estimate  it.  John  Miles  had  a  strong, 
healthy  nature,  with  a  good  deal  of  confidence  in 
his  own  resources,  and  in  an  hour  or  two  he  was 
again  looking  hopefully  forward  to  the  future. 
Not  that  he  cherished  a  hope  of  recovering  his 
lost  money.  There  seemed  to  "be  no  way  of 
identifying  it,  even  if  he  should  track  the  thief. 


90  THE     YOUNG    MINER;   OR, 

One  ounce  of  gold-dust  looks  like  another,  and 
there  is  no  way  of  distinguishing  individual 
property  in  that  form. 

John  Miles  pushed  on  slowly.  About  noon  he 
found  himself  threading  a  narrow  canon,  shaded 
by  gigantic  redwood  tress,  with  steep,  almost 
perpendicular  sides,  with  here  and  there  a  nar 
row  streamlet  descending  in  a  cascade,  and 
lighting  up  the  darkened  scene  with  its  silvery 
reflections. 

"  This  is  a  pretty  spot,  but  it  would  be  lonely 
to  live  here,"  thought  Miles.  "Yet,"  shading  his 
eyes,  "  there  seems  to  be  a  cabin  of  some 
sort.  Is  it  possible  that  anybody  lives  in  this 
canon  ?  " 

Ten  minutes'  ride  brought  him  to  a  rude  cabin, 
with  a  gigantic  tree  spreading  at  a  great  height 
protecting  branches  over  it.  That  it  was  inhab 
ited  was  clear,  for  in  front  of  it  stood  a  strongly 
built,  robust  woman,  who  seemed  to  be  nearing 
forty. 

She  bent  a  searching  look  upon  the  intruder, 
who  bent  his  head  courteously. 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  91 

"  Good-morning,   ma'am,"   said   Miles. 

"  Good-morning,     stranger,"      was      the      reply 
"  Where   might  you   be  going?" 

"I  am  on  my  way  to  the  city.  Am  I  on  the 
right  track?" 

UI   reckon   so." 

"Do  you  live  here  —  alone?"  asked  John  Miles, 
in  some  curiosity. 

"It  looks  like  it,  doesn't  it?"  returned  the 
woman.  "I've  been  alone  since  my  man  pegged 
out." 

"Is   that  long?" 

"A  matter  of  three  weeks." 

"  I  sympathize  with  you,"  said  Miles.  "  You 
must  be  very  lonety." 

"Yes,"  said  the  widow.  "Jim  was  good  com 
pany,  and  I  feel  kind  of  lonesome  without  him, 
you  better  believe." 

"There  isn't  much  sentiment  there,"  thought 
Miles.  "  She  doesn't  appear  to  be  heart-broken. 
Do  you  mean  to  stay  here  alone?"  he  inquired. 
"Are  you  not  afraid?" 

u  What's   there   to   be   afraid   of?" 


92 


THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 


"  Some  tramp  or  adventurer  might  attack  and 
injure,  or  at  least  rob  }TOU." 

"  Look  here,  stranger!  do  you  see  that?"  and  the 
woman  produced  a  revolver.  "  Do  you  see  taat 
shooting-iron?" 

"It  looks  as  if  it  might  be  a  good  one,"  said 
Miles,  who  began  to  think  the  woman  better  able 
to  take  care  of  herself  than  he  had  at  first  sup 
posed. 

"You  bet  it  is!  I  know  how  to  use  it,  too.  If 
one  of  them  tramps  gets  in  front  of  it,  and  sasses 
me,  he'd  better  say  his  prayers  mighty  quick,  for 
he'll  need  'em.  He  needn't  reckon  much  on  my 
being  a  woman.  I  can  shoot  jest  as  true  as  my 
man  could  when  he  was  alive." 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA. 


CHAPTER   X. 

A   CALIFORNIA   WIDOW. 

JOHN  MILES  eyed  the  woman  curiously.  There 
did  not  seem  much  that  was  feminine  left  in  her. 
Life  in  the  wilderness  had  made  her  as  bold  and 
self-reliant  as  a  man.  She  was  not  compelled  to 
plead  for  woman's  rights.  She  resolutely  took  a 
man's  rights,  and  was  prepared  to  maintain  them 
against  all  comers. 

" 1  rather  think  you  can  take  care  of  yourself, 
ma'am,"  he  said. 

"  You  can  bet  your  bottom  dollar  on  that, 
stranger,"  said  the  woman,  cheerfully.  "  Brown  — 
that's  my  husband  —  knew  what  I  was.  We  was 
ekal  partners  —  Brown  and  me  —  and  he  knew  too 
much  to  tread  on  me." 

44  I'm  glad  I  wasn't  Brown,"  thought  John  Miles. 
<k  When  I  marry,  it'll  be  a  woman,  and  not  a  man 
in  petticoats." 


94  THE    YOUNG   MINES;    OJZ, 

"If  you're  hungry,  stranger,"  said  the  woman, 
u  just  jump  off  that  horse  of  yours,  and  come  in.  I 
can  give  you  a  square  meal,  and  I  reckon  you 
haven't  had  one  lately." 

"You  are  right,  Mrs.  Brown,"  said  Miles,  dis 
mounting  with  alacrity.  "  My  provisions  are  dry 
and  stale,  and  I  shall  enjoy  a  square  meal  amaz 
ingly.  But  I  ought  to  tell  you  that  last  night  I 
was  robbed  of  a  bag  of  gold-dust,  and  I  have 
nothing  to  pay  you." 

"  Who  asks  for  pay?"  returned  the  woman.  "I 
don't  keep  a  hotel,  but  I'm  tired  of  eating  alone. 
I  want  to  see  how  it  seems  to  have  a  man  setting 
opposite  me  agin.  So  come  in,  and  I  won't  keep 
you  waiting  long." 

"  Thank  you,  Mrs.  Brown.  If  you  don't  mind, 
I'll  light  my  pipe,  and  sit  out  here  till  I've  had  a 
smoke." 

"  You  can  smoke  inside  if  you  want  to.  I  always 
let  Brown.  It  makes  me  feel  better,  now  that  he's 
pegged  out,  that  I  didn't  deny  him  any  of  his 
little  comforts." 

"  Clearly   Mrs.   Brown   was   a   considerate  wife," 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  95 

thought  Miles  ;  "  but  she  doesn't  look  like  a  woman 
to  fall  in  love  with." 

Tying  his  horse,  he  threw  himself  down  on  the 
grass,  and  enjoyed  the  luxury  of  a  smoke  while 
Mrs.  Brown  was  heard  bustling  about  inside,  pre 
paring  the  square  meal  which  she  had  promised  to 
her  unexpected  guest. 

Presently   she   reappeared. 

"  The  victuals  is  ready,  if  you  are,  stranger,"  she 
said. 

"I  am  ready,  Mrs.  Brown,"  said  Miles,  rising 
at  once,  and  entering  the  cabin. 

The  cabin  was  rough,  and  ill-adapted  to  a  fastid 
ious  tenant,  but  it  looked  comfortable.  What  at 
tracted  Miles  most,  however,  was  a  table  set  in  the 
middle  of  the  floor,  covered  with  a  substantial 
and  appetizing  meal.  Mrs.  Brown  was  a  fair  cook  — 
perhaps  her  only  feminine  accomplishment.  She 
placed  Miles  at  the  head  of  the  table,  and  seated 
herself  opposite  him.  She  watched  his  attacks  upon 
the  fare  she  had  provided  with  evident  satisfac 
tion. 

"  I  hope  you  like  it,"  she  said. 


96  THE     TOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

"  Mrs.  Brown,  I  haven't  tasted  anything  so  good 
for  a  long  time." 

She  nodded,  with  a  pleased  look. 

"Brown  allus  liked  mycookin,"  she  said.  "He 
had  a  good  appetite  most  generally,  and  it  was 
a  pleasure  to  see  him  eat.  It's  kinder  lonesome 
cookin'  for  yourself.  Then,  too,  it  takes  away  my 
appetite  sittin'  down  alone  to  eat." 

"  You   must  be  very  lonely,   Mrs.   Brown." 

"Yes,  its  lonesome  like  bein'  a  widder.  I'm 
kinder  used  to  seein'  a  man  about  the  house." 

"  So  I   suppose." 

"Be  you  a  married  man?"  asked  the  lady, 
pointedly. 

"  No,  ma'am." 

"How  old   be  you?" 

"  Twenty-eight,"  answered  Miles,  rather  amused. 

"  Then  you're   old   enough  to  get  married  ? " 

"  Oh  yes,   I   am  old  enough." 

"Be  you  in   love   with   any  girl?" 

"  The  old  woman's  getting  curious,"  thought 
Miles.  "However,  I  don't  mind  gratifying  her 
curiosity." 


TOM    NELPON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  97 

"  No,   Fm   not  in   love,"   he   replied. 

Mrs.  Brown  eyed  him  thoughtfully.     She  seemed 
to  be  revolving  some  plan  in  her  mind. 

"  Take   a   good  look  at   me,  stranger,"  she  said, 
bracing  herself  up,   as  if  on  exhibition. 

"  Certainly/'   said  John   Miles,    considerably   as 
tonished. 

"  I  want  to  ask  you  a  few  questions." 

"  Go   ahead,   Mrs.   Brown." 

"Am  I  hump-backed?" 

"Certainly   not.     Who   said   you  were?" 

"Just  attend    to    my   questions,  if    you    please, 
stranger.     Am   I   squint-eyed?" 

"Mrs.   Brown  must    be   crazy,"   thought    Miles. 
However,   he   answered  in  the  negative. 

"Am  I   as  homely  as   a  hedge-fence?"   pursued 
the  widow. 

"Has  anybody  been   calling  you  so?     If  so,  tell 
me   who   it  is." 

"Never  you   mind,    stranger.      Am    I    old    and 
wrinkled?" 

"Certainly    she's    out    of    her    mind,"    thought 
Miles.     "  I   must  humor  her." 


98  THE     TOUNG    MINER;    0A, 

"  I  think  you  are  a  very  good-looking  woman," 
he  said,  soothingly. 

"  No,  I'm  not,"  said  the  strong-minded  lady, 
"  but  at  the  same  time  I  ain't  a  scarecrow." 

"  Certainly  not." 

"  Don't  talk  too  much,  stranger.  I  expect  you're 
surprised  at  my  questions,  but  I'll  come  to  the 
p'int  at  once.  I'm  tired  of  livin'  here  alone.  I 
didn't  think  I'd  miss  Brown  so  much.  He  wasn't 
any  great  shakes  of  a  man,  but  he  was  better 
than  nothing.  He  was  company  for  me,  Brown 
was,  in  the  long  evenin's,  and  I  miss  him.  I've 
made  up  my  mind  to  take  on  somebody  in  his 
place,  and  I  reckon  I'd  like  to  engage  you, 
stranger.  Will  you  marry  me?" 

Mrs.  Brown  did  not  blush  when  she  asked  this 
extraordinary  question.  She  was  entirely  self- 
possessed,  and  could  not  have  been  cooler,  if  she 
had  been  transacting  an  ordinary  piece  of  business. 

John  Miles  had  never  before  received  a  pro 
posal  of  marriage.  He  felt  as  awkward  and  con 
fused  as  a  young  girl,  and  began  to  hesitate  and 
stammer. 


TOM   NELSON   IN  CALIFORNIA.  99 

u  Really,  Mrs.  Brown,"  he  began,  "you  have 
taken  me  by  surprise." 

"I  expect  I  have,"  said  the  widow,  "but  I'll 
give  you  time  to  think  it  over.  Brown  left  me 
pretty  comfortable,  though  I  did  more  to  get  the 
property  together  than  he.  You  wouldn't  think 
it,  perhaps,  but  I've  got  five  thousand  dollars  in 
gold  hid  away  somewheres  near,  and  there's  a 
claim  not  far  away,  that  belongs  to  me,  and 
will  pay  for  workinV 

"I  am  glad  you  are  so  well  off,  Mrs.  Brown," 
said  Miles. 

"  If  you  marry  me,"  continued  the  widow, 
"you  can  work  that  claim.  You're  a  strong,  able- 
bodied  man,  and  a  year  from  now,  if  you  want 
to,  we'll  go  to  the  city,  and  settle  down.  I'm 
older  than  you. ;  but  a  matter  of  a  few  years 
don't  make  much  difference.  You  were  robbed, 
you  told  me?" 

"Yes,   of  all  that  I  had." 

"How  much   was  it?" 

"About  two  hundred  dollars." 

"That   ain't  much." 


100  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    0/2, 

"  It's  a  good  deal  when  it's  all  you  have,"  answered 
Miles. 

"  If  you  marry  me  you  won't  miss  it,"  said 
Mrs.  Brown.  "I  won't  give  }'ou  my  money 
right  off,  for  you  might  run  off  with  it,  but  at 
the  end  of  the  first  year  }7ou  shall  have  half  of 
it.  There's  a  parson  a  few  miles  up  the  canon, 
at  Dirt  Hole,  that  will  marry  us  any  time  we 
ride  over.  What  do  you  say,  stranger?" 

It  was  an  embarrassing  moment  for  John 
Miles.  He  had  no  desire  to  succeed  the  deceased 
Brown,  notwithstanding  the  little  property  he  had 
left  behind  him.  Mrs.  Brown  did  not  in  the 
least  resemble  the  wife  of  whom  he  had  some 
times  dreamed.  But  how  could  he  decline  with 
out  exciting  the  resentment  of  that'  singular 
female?  He  bore  in  mind  that  Mrs.  Brown 
carried  a  revolver,  and  she  might  take  a  notion 
to  shoot  him  down.  He  must  temporize. 

"  Your  proposal  is  a  very  kind  and  flattering 
one,  Mrs.  Brown,  but  I  don't  care  to  marry 
just  at  present.  I  want  to  go  to  the  city  and 
try  my  fortune.  I've  only  lately  arrived  in  Call- 


TOM    NELSON    IN   CALIFORNIA.  101 

forma,    and    I     am    not    ready     to    settle    down 
yet." 

To  his  relief  Mrs.  Brown  accepted  his  objection 
in  good  part. 

*'  No  offence,  stranger,"  she  said.  "I  didn't 
know  how  you  might  feel  about  it.  I've  made 
you  a  fair  offer." 

"  Indeed  you  have.  The  time  may  come  when 
I  shall  return,  and  — " 

"  I  won't  promise  to  wait  for  you,  stranger. 
Somebody  else  may  happen  along  that'll  take  the 
situation." 

4 "It  would  be  too  much  to  expect  you  to  wait 
for  me,  I  admit." 

t;  All  right,  stranger.  You've  answered  fair, 
and  now  we'll  let  the  matter  drop." 

When  Miles  left  the  cabin  he  carried  with 
him  an  addition  to  his  stock  of  provisions,  for 
which  he  was  indebted  to  Mrs.  Brown's  liberality. 
It  was  evident  that  she  bore  no  malice, 
standing  her  suit  had  been  rejected. 


102  THE     YOUNG    MINER; 


CHAPTER  XI. 
BILL  CRANE'S  GOOD  LUCK. 

ABOUT  an  hour  after  John  Miles  rode  away 
from  the  widow's  door  Mr.  William  Crane  came 
in  sight  of  the  cabin.  He  had  strayed  from  the 
direct  course,  and  that  had  delayed  him.  Other 
wise  he  would  not  have  fallen  behind  Miles. 

Bill  Crane  was  in  rather  a  melancholy  mood. 
He  had  not  got  over  his  disappointment  of  the 
morning.  .  He  was  fagged  out  and  hungry,  and 
felt  that  luck  was  against  him.  When  he  saw 
the  cabin,  and  the  widow  Brown  sitting  in  the 
door-way,  it  instantly  occurred  to  him  that  here 
was  a  chance  to  get  a  dinner.  He  had  nothing 
to  pay,  to  be  sure,  but  he  need  say  nothing 
about  it  till  after  the  dinner  was  eaten. 

As  he  rode  up,  he  removed  his  hat,  and  said, 
u  Good-day,  ma'am." 

Mrs.    Brown    scrutinized    the    new-comer    with 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  103 

critical  eyes.  She  decided  that  he  was  not  as 
good-looking  as  John  Miles.  Indeed  Bill  Crane 
never  could  have  been  accounted  handsome ;  but 
on  this  point  the  widow  was  not  exacting.  She 
was  looking  for  somebody  to  fill  the  place  of  her 
lamented  Brown,  and  relieve  her  loneliness,  and 
it  was  Crane's  eligibility  in  this  respect  that  she 
was  considering.  Beauty  was  but  skin  deep,  as 
Mrs.  Brown  was  practical  enough  to  admit,  and 
she  was  not  overstocked  with  that  attractive 
quality  herself.  Though  Crane  did  not  know  it, 
the  resolute,  middle-aged  female,  from  whom  he 
hoped  to  obtain  a  gratuitous  dinner,  was  making 
up  her  mind  to  offer  him  the  position  of  hus 
band. 

"  Good-day,  stranger,"  she  answered  composedly. 
"Are  you  travelin'  fur?" 

"I'm  thinkin'  of  goin'  to  Frisco,"  he  said,  "but 
It's  a  long  journey  and  I'm  fagged  out.  If 
you  have  no  objection,  I'll  stop  at  your 
place  and  eee  if  I  can  rest  a  few  min 
utes.0 

"You    can     stop    if   you   want    to,"    she    said. 


104  THE   YOUXG  MINER;  OR, 

" 1  don't  see  much  company,  and  I  like  to  see 
a  new  face  now  and  then." 

"  So  do  I,"  said  Crane,  thinking  a  little  flat 
tery  might  help  him;  "especially  when  it's  the 
face  of  a  good-looking  woman." 

"  I  aint  good-lookin'  enough  to  hurt  me," 
returned  Mrs.  Brown,  with  a  frankness  which 
rather  disconcerted  and  puzzled  Crane,  "  but  I 
don't  mind  you  callin*  me  so.  If  you  are  any 
ways  hungry,  I  haven't  cleared  away  the  dinner, 
and—" 

44  You  are  very  kind,"  broke  in  Crane,  eager 
ly;  "I  don't  mind  saying  I  am  a  little  bit 
hungry." 

44  All  right,  stranger.  If  you'll  wait  long  enough 
for  me  to  make  some  hot  tea,  and  warm  the 
victuals,  you  shall  have  a  chance  to  judge  of  my 
cookinV 

Bill  Crane  was  quite  elated.  He  decided  that 
the  widow  would  not  ask  him  for  payment,  thus 
saving  him  from  embarrassing  excuses.  In  due 
time  he  was  called  in  and  seated  in  the  chair 
not  long  since  occupied  by  John  Miles. 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  105 

"  You're  the  second  man  that's  dined  with  me 
to-day,"  said  the  widow. 

"And  who  was  the  first  lucky  man?"  inquired 
Crane,  suspecting  at  once  that  it  might  have  been 
Miles. 

"  I  don't  know  his  name,  but  he  was  a  good- 
looking  young  man,  who  said  he  had  had  a  bag 
of  gold-dust  stolen  from  him." 

"That's  Miles,"  thought  Crane;  and  he  at  once 
decided  not  to  betray  any  knowledge  of  him. 

ulle  was  in  bad  luck,"  said  Bill.  "Did  he 
know  who  stole  it?" 

"  He  didn't  tell  me.     I  don't  think  he  knew." 

"  That's  well,"  thought  Crane. 

"  Did  he  say  where  he  was  going?" 

"To    the   city." 

"Do  you  live  here  all  the  year  round, 
Mrs. ?" 

"  My   name's   Brown,   stranger." 

44  All  I  can  say  is,  that  Brown  is  a  luck}' 
man.  Another  cup  of  tea  if  you  please,  Mrs. 
Brown." 

"  You   might    not    like   to  exchange   places   with 


106  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

him,    for    all    his    luck,    stranger,"    remarked    the 
widow. 

"Indeed  I  would,"  said  Bill,  with  a  languishing 
look. 

"  He's  six  feet  under  ground!"  explained  Mrs. 
Brown,  dryly. 

"Dead?"   ejaculated   Crane. 

"  Yes ;  he's  been  dead  these  three  weeks." 

"And  you   are   a   widow?" 

"That's   so,    stranger." 

"But  you  don't  mean  to  stay  a  widow?"  intei 
rogated  Crane. 

"Well,  it  is  kinder  lonesome.  It  seems  nateral 
like  to  have  a  man  round." 

"  I  wonder  if  she's  got  any  money,"  thought 
Crane.  "I'll  find  out  if  I  can." 

"  Yes,  Mrs.  Brown,  I  feel  for  you,"  he  said. 
"  A  woman  can't  struggle  with  the  world  as  a 
man  can." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that,  stranger.  I  can  take 
care  of  myself,  if  that's  what  you  mean." 

"But  a  woman  needs  a  man  to  protect  and 
work  for  her,"  insinuated  Crane. 


1OM   NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  107 

"  I  don't  need  any  one  to  protect  me,"  said  the 
widow ;  "  and,  as  for  support,  I've  got  a  matter 
of  five  thousand  dollars  laid  by,  and  a  good 
claim  that'll  pay  for  the  workin'.  I  don't  think 
I  shall  need  to  go  to  the  poor-house  yet  awhile." 

Bill  Crane's  eyes  sparkled.  The  widow  Brown 
seemed  wonderfully  attractive  in  his  eyes.  He  was 
willing  to  barter  his  young  affections  for  five 
thousand  dollars  and  a  claim,  even  if  the  widow 
had  been  thrice  as  homely  as  she  was.  If  he 
had  known  that  Mrs.  Brown  was  bent  on  mar 
riage  his  way  would  have  been  clearer.  His 
mind  was  made  up.  He  would  woo  and  win  his 
fair  hostess  if  he  could. 

"When   did  Brown   die?"  he  inquired. 

"Three  weeks   ago,   stranger." 

"  You  must  miss   him." 

"Yes,  he  was  a  quiet  man,  Brown  was.  Ho 
never  gave  me  any  trouble,  and  it  was  natural 
to  see  him  round." 

"You  must  not  mourn  for  him  too  much,  Mrs. 
Brown." 

"I    shan't    make    a    fool    of   myself,"    said    the 


108  THE    TouNq  MINER;  o#, 

widow.  "He's  gone,  and  he  won't  come  back. 
There's  no  use  c^in'." 

"  She's  rather  a  queer  specimen,"  thought  Crane. 
"  She  hasn't  broken  her  heart,  it  seems." 

"You   ought   to   marry   again,"   he   said. 

"I   mean   to,"   said  Mrs.   Brown. 

"Well,  that's  frank,"  thought  Crane.  "There 
aint  any  nonsense  about  her." 

"Your  second  husband  will  be  a  lucky  man, 
Mrs.  Brown." 

"  Well,  he'll  have  a  good  livin',  and,  if  he  treats 
me  right,  he'll  get  treated  right  too." 

"This  is  a  cold  world,  Mrs.  Brown.  I've  been 
drifting  about  till  I'm  tired.  I'd  like  to  settle  down 
with  a  good  wife." 

"  If  you  want  to  take  Brown's  place,  say  so," 
remarked  the  widow,  in  a  business-like  tone. 

Bill  Crane  was  staggered  by  the  promptness 
with  which  his  hint  was  taken,  but  did  not 
hesitate  to  follow  it  up. 

14  That's   what   I   mean,"    he  said. 

"What's  your  name,  stranger?" 

"  William  Crane  " 


TOM    NBLSO.V    IN  CALIFORNIA.  109 

"  You   haven't  got   another   wife  anywhere,  have 

you?" 

"Of  course   not." 

"  I've  got  to  take  your  word  for  it,  I  s'pose. 
J  guess  I'll  take  the  risk.  I'll  marry  you  if 
you  say  so." 

"How   soon?"   asked   Crane,   eagerly. 

u  Well,  there's  a  parson  a  few  miles  from  here. 
We  can  ride  right  over  and  be  back  by  sundown, 
if  that  will  suit  you." 

"A  capital  idea,  Mrs.  Brown.  You  won't  be 
Brown  long,"  he  added,  sportively.  "  How  will 
you  like  to  be  called  Mrs.  Crane?" 

u  One  name  will  do  as  well  as  another,"  said 
the  widow,  philosophically. 

Crane  wanted  to  make  inquiries  about  the  five 
thousand  dollars  and  the  claim ;  but  he  reflected 
that  it  might  be  inferred  that  his  views  were 
mercenary.  It  would  be  more  politic  to  wait  till 
after  marriage.  He  did  not  understand  the  char 
acter  of  the  woman  he  was  going  to  marry.  She 
understood  very  well  that  Crane  was  marrying 
h-jr  for  her  money;  but  she  felt  lonesome,  and  it 


110  THE     YOUNG    MINER;   OJt, 

suited  her  to  have  a  husband,  and  she  was  willing 
to  overlook  such  a  trifle. 

The  widow  bad  a  horse  of  her  own.  Directly 
after  dinner  it  was  harnessed,  and  the  two  rode 
over  to  Dirt  Hole,  a  small  mining  settlement, 
where  the  Rev.  Pelatiah  Pond,  a  Methodist  min 
ister,  united  them  in  the  bonds  of  matrimony. 

When  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crane  reached  home,  Bill 
ventured  to  inquire,  "  Have  you  got  the  money 
in  the  house,  Mrs.  Crane,  —  the  five  thousand 
dollars,  I  mean?" 

"  It's  put  away   in   a  safe  place." 

"  You'd  better  let  me  take  care  of  it  for  you, 
my  dear." 

"Not  at  present,  Mr.  Crane.  A  year  from  now 
I  will  let  you  have  half  of  it,  if  you  behave 
yourself." 

44  As   your  husband,   madam,   I    insist." 

4 '  Stop  right  there,  stranger  —  Mr.  Crane,  I 
mean,"  said  the  bride,  decidedly.  44  Do  you 
see  that?  and  she  whipped  out  a  revolver. 

44  Good  gracious,  Mrs.  Crane !  Do  you  want  to 
murder  me?" 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  Ill 

"No,  1  didn't  marry  you  for  that;  but  I  want 
you  to  understand  that  the  money  is  in  my  hands, 
and  I  don't  allow  any  man  to  insist.  I  may  let 
you  have  some  of  it  when  I  get  ready.  Do 
you  understand?" 

"I  believe  I  do,"  murmured  Crane.  "  I'm 
regularly  taken  in  and  done  for,"  he  reflected 
sadl}T. 

But  directly   after  their  return   Mrs.   Crane   pre 
pared  a  nice  supper,  and   Crane,  as  he  ate  it,  and 
smoked  a  pipe  later,  began  to  be  reconciled  ta  hi* 
new  situation. 


112  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OX% 


CHAPTER  XII. 

TOM   RECEIVES   NEWS    FROM   HOME. 

MEANWHILE  Tom,  happily  unconscious  that  the 
money  intrusted  to  John  Miles  had  been  lost, 
continued  to  work  diligently  at  his  claim.  His 
success  varied  from  day  to  day ;  but,  on  the  whole, 
he  was  gaining.  He  spent  nothing  except  f<»r 
absolute  necessities,  and  in  spite  of  all  tempta 
tions  he  gave  a  wide  berth  to  Missouri  Jack's 
saloon.  In  this  way  he  gained  the  ill-will  of  the 
saloon-keeper,  who  felt  a  certain  portion  of  every 
miner's  gains  ought  to  find  its  way  into  his  till. 

One  evening  Tom  met  the  saloon-keeper  when 
out  walking.  The  latter  had  not  at  that  time 
given  up  securing  Tom's  patronage. 

"  Good-evening,   young  feller,"   said   Jack. 

Tom   answered   the   greeting  politely. 

"Why  don't  you  come  round  to  the  saloon 
evenings?  We  always  have  a  jolly  crowd  there. 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  113 

After  a  hard  day's  work  it'll  do  you  good  to  take 
a  social  glass." 

"I  would  rather  not  drink,  thank  you,"  said 
Tom. 

"You  aint  afraid  of  a  little  drink,  I  hope,  are 
you?" 

"  Yes,  I  would  rather  let  it  alone." 

uOh,  you're  too  good  to  live,"  said  Jack,  in 
deep  disgust. 

"  I  hope  not,"  answered  Tom,  smiling ;  "  for  I 
hope  to  live  a  good  many  years." 

That  was  the  last  attempt  Missouri  Jack  made  to 
secure  Tom  as  a  patron.  Our  hero  spoke  in  so 
decided  a  tone  that  he  understood  the  uselessness 
of  the  attempt. 

Two  months  passed,  and  Tom  heard  nothing 
from  John  Miles.  He  was  not  surprised  or  dis 
quieted,  for  he  knew  that  mails  to  the  interior 
were  very  irregular,  and,  besides,  Miles  might  not 
be  fond  of  letter-writing.  He  took  it  for  granted 
that  the  seventy-five  dollars  had  been  forwarded 
home,  and  were  now  in  his  father's  hands.  Tie 
had  saved  as  much  more,  and  would  like  to  havo 


114  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

sent  that  too,  for  its  possession  gave  him  anxiety ; 
but  there  seemed  to  be  no  opportunity. 

About  this  time  he  received  two  letters.  The 
first  was  from  John  Miles,  written  from  San  Fran 
cisco.  After  acquainting  Tom  with  his  loss  of 
the  bag  of  gold-dust,  be  proceeded :  — 

u  I  should  not  have  cared  so  much,  Tom,  had 
the  loss  been  mine  only ;  but  it  was  hard  to 
think  that  I  had  lost  your  money  too,  and  was 
unable  to  pay  it  back.  I  know,  from  what  you 
said,  that  your  father  needed  the  money,  and  that 
the  delay  would  put  him  to  a  good  deal  of  in 
convenience.  You  shall  have  it  all  back,  Tom, 
every  cent ;  but  you  will  have  to  wait  awhile. 
On  reaching  Frisco  I  got  work,  and  soon  saved 
up  enough  to  pay  the  debt,  when,  as  bad  luck 
would  have  it,  I  fell  sick,  and  before  I  got 
well  all  my  money  had  been  used  up.  Now  I 
am  well  again,  and  at  work,  and  if  I  have  good 
luck  will  be  able  soon  to  send  on  the  money  to 
your  father.  I  know  you  will  understand  the 
circumstances,  and  will  excuse  the  delay. 

"  The  very  day  I  discovered  my  loss  I  had  a 


TOM    NELSON    IN    CALIFORNIA.  115 

chance  to  marry  a  fortune.  You  will  stare  at 
that,  aid  wonder  how  it  happened.  At  a  lonely 
cabin  I  made  the  acquaintance  of  a  widow,  who 
was  looking  out  for  a  second  husband.  She  was 
left  with  a  comfortable  property,  which,  with  her 
hand,  she  was  willing  to  bestow  upon  your  friend ; 
but  she  didn't  tempt  me  much.  I  believe  her 
fortune  amounted  to  five  thousand  dollars  and  a 
claim.  It  would  be  a  good  chance  for  you,  if 
you  were  old  enough,  Torn. 

"  I  don't  know  when  this  letter  will  reach  you, 
for  the  country  mails  —  at  least  to  such  out-of- 
the-way  places  as  River  Bend  —  go  quite  irregu 
larly.  However,  I  hope  you  will  get  it  after  a 
while,  and  won't  be  too  much  troubled  about  the 
money ;  if  I  live  it  shall  be  repaid." 

Tom  showed  this  letter  to  Ferguson. 

44  It's  a  pity,  my  lad,  that  the  money  was 
stolen, "  said  the  Scotchman;  u  but  you'll  get  it 
again.  John  Miles  is  an  honest  man." 

"I  am  sure  of  that,  Mr.  Ferguson.  I  don't 
know  that  I  ought  to  make  him  pay  it  back, 
though.  It  isn't  his  fault  that  it  was  lost." 


116  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OJZ, 

"  That's  true,  my  lad,  and  you  might  offer  to 
share  the  loss  with  him,  but  I  doubt  if  he 
would  accept  your  offer.  He  will  feel  better  to 
pay  it  all  back." 

"  At  any  rate  I  will  write  him,  and  make  him 
the  offer." 

"That's  fair,  Tom;  but  you'll  see  what  he'll 
say." 

It  may  be  stated  here  that  Miles  utterly  de 
clined  to  accept  any  abatement  of  the  debt. 

"  I  ought  to  have  taken  better  care  of  the 
money,"  he  said.  "  It's  my  fault,  and  I  shall 
pay  it  in  full." 

The  next  letter  was  from  home.  Tom  opened 
and  read  it  eagerly.  It  was  mainly  from  his 
father,  but  there  was  a  note  from  each  member 
of  the  family. 

His   father   wrote  :  — 


MY  DEAR  TOM,  —  We  are  glad  to  hear  that  you  have 
reached  California  after  a  wearisome  journey,  and  are 
now  at  work.  We  ha>  e  travelled  so  little  that  we  can 
hardly  realize  that  you  are  more  than  three  thousand 


TOM  NELSON  IN  CALIFORNIA.  117 

miles  away  from  us,  with  so  many  mountains,  plains,  and 
valleys  between.  Of  course  you  cannot  tell  us  much  in 
your  letters  of  your  various  experiences.  I  wish  we 
could  have  you  with  us  this  evening,  and  hear  some  of 
them  from  your  own  lips. 

I  am  anxious  to  hear  that  you  are  succeeding  in  the 
object  of  your  journey,  and  that  you  will  not  find  the 
stories  of  the  rich  gold  fields  greatly  exaggerated.  I  do 
not  myself  believe  aH  I  hear,  yet  I  think  there  must  be 
gold  enough  to  pay  those  who  search  for  it  diligently. 
You  must  remember,  my  dear  boy,  that  hard  work  is 
better  than  luck,  and  more  to  be  relied  upon.  Don't 
expect  to  make  your  fortune  all  at  once  by  finding  a 
big  nugget,  but  work  steadily,  and  you  will  meet  with 
more  or  less  success. 

If  you  succeed  moderately,  I  shall  be  glad  you  went 
away,  for  here  prospects  are  not  very  good.  Our  little 
farm  seems  to  be  less  productive  every  year.  The  soil 
is  not  very  good,  as  you  know,  and  I  cannot  afford 
fertilizers.  This  year  the  crops  were  not  as  good  as 
usual,  and  we  have  felt  the  decrease  sensibly.  If  there 
were  not  a  mortgage  on  the  farm,  I  could  get  along  very 
well,  but  the  interest  now  amounts  to  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
two  dollars  annually,  and  it  is  hard  to  get  that  amount 
together.  Next  month  sixty-six  dollars  come  due,  and  I 
don't  know  how  I  am  to  find  the  money.  Squire  Hudson 


118  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

could  afford  to  wait;  but  I  am  afraid  he  won't.  The 
older  and  richer  he  gets,  the  more  grasping  he  becomes, 
I  sometimes  think.  However,  I  don't  want  to  borrow 
trouble.  If  it  is  absolutely  necessary  I  can  sell  off  one 
of  the  cows  to  raise  the  money,  and  before  the  year 
comes  round  I  think  you  will  be  able  to  help  me. 

Walter,  though  only  twelve  years  old,  —  his  thirteenth 
birthday  comes  next  month,  —  helps  me  about  the  farm, 
and  is  very  useful  in  doing  chores.  He  likes  farm-work, 
and  will  be  ready  to  succeed  me  in  time.  As  for  Sarah, 
ehe  is  a  good,  sensible  girl,  and  helps  her  mother  in  a 
good  many  ways.  Though  I  am  a  poor  man,  and  always 
expect  to  remain  so,  I  feel  that  I  am  blessed  in  having 
good,  industrious  children,  who  promise  to  grow  up  and 
do  me  credit.  I  should  not  be  willing  to  exchange  one 
of  my  boys  for  Squire  Hudson's  son  Sinclair.  He  is,  to 
my  mind,  a  very  disagreeable  boy,  who  makes  himself 
ridiculous  by  the  airs  he  puts  on.  I  have  seen  him 
once  or  twice  lately  when  he  appeared  to  have  been 
drinking;  but  I  hope  I  am  mistaken  in  this.  He  is  an 
only  son,  and  it  would  be  a  pity  that  he  should  go  astray. 


Tom  looked  thoughtful  after  reading  this  letter. 
"Is  it  bad  news,  Tom,  lad?"  asked  Ferguson. 
44  Times  are  hard  at  home,  Mr.  Ferguson," 


TOM   NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  119 

answered  Tom.  "  Father  is  very  much  in  need 
of  money.  It  would  have  been  a  great  help  to 
him  if  he  had  received  that  seventy-five  dollars." 

u  You  have  as  much  as  that  on  hand  now, 
Tom.  If  it  isn't  enough,  I  will  lend  you  some." 

"  Thank  you,  Mr.  Ferguson.  You  are  a  good 
friend,  and  I  wouldn't  mind  accepting  your  offer,  if 
I  needed  it.  But  father  won't  need  any  more  than 
I  can  send  him.  Only  I  don't  know  how  to  get  it 
to  him." 

"If  }TOU  were  in  San  Francisco,  you  would  have 
no  difficulty  in  sending  the  money." 

"No." 

"I've  been  thinking,  Tom,"  said  Ferguson,  after 
a  while,  "  that  it  might  be  a  good  plan  for  us 
to  take  a  little  vacation,  and  visit  the  city.  We 
have  been  working  steadily  here  over  three  months, 
and  the  change  would  do  us  good.  Besides,  we 
might  on  '  the  way  come  across  some  better 
place.  This  isn't  as  good  now  as  when  we  began 
to  work  it." 

"That  is   true/'    said  Tom. 

"Suppose,   then,    we   stay   a    week  longer,    BeH 


120  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

out   our   claim   if  we   can,  and   start  in   the   diiot, 
tion   of  the   city." 

"You    and   I?" 

"  Yes ;  we  shall  be  better  off  without  company." 

"  We  had  better  not  let  Peabody  know  we  are 
going,  or  he  will  want  to  accompany  us." 

44  I  could  almost  be  willing  to  take  him,  poor 
creature,  to  get  him  away  from  that  Missouri 
Jack ;  but,  as  you  say,  he  would  not  be  a  help  to 
us." 

So  it  was  decided  that,  in  a  few  days,  as  soon 
as  they  were  ready,  Tom  and  Ferguson  should 
leave  River  Bend. 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  121 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

A   SPECULATIVE    INVESTMENT. 

IT  leaked  out  after  a  while  that  Tom  and  Fer 
guson  were  intending  to  leave  River  Bend,  and 
considerable  regret .  was  expressed  by  the  other 
members  of  the  party.  Tom  was  a  general  favor 
ite.  His  youth  and  his  obliging  disposition  made 
him  liked  by  all  except  Missouri  Jack  and  his 
set.  It  cannot  be  said  that  his  Scotch  friend 
was  popular,  but  he  was,  at  all  events,  highly 
respected  as  a  man  of  high  principle  and  rigid 
honesty.  This  was  not  the  way  the  miners  ex 
pressed  it.  They  called  him  a  "square"  man, 
and  that  word  expressed  high  moral  praise.  They 
all  felt  that  Tom  was  going  off  in  good  com 
pany. 

Before  they  went,  the  two  had  a  chance  for 
a  speculation.  Two  weeks  before,  a  man  came  to 
River  Bend,  across  the  country,  with  a  horse  and 


122  THE  YOUNG  MINER;   OB, 

wagon,  the  latter  an  old  express  wagon,  which 
he  had  brought  round  the  Horn  from  some  one 
of  the  Eastern  States.  What  had  induced  him 
to  take  so  much  trouble  to  convey  such  bulky 
articles  was  not  quite  clear.  Now  that  he  was  a 
miner  he  had  no  use  for  them,  and  at  River 
Bend  they  were  not  saleable.  This  man,  Abner 
Kent,  came  to  Ferguson's  tent,  where  he  and  Tom 
were  resting  after  the  labors  of  the  day.  He  was 
a  tall  man,  with  a  shambling  gait  and  an  angular 
face. 

"Good-evening,"  he  said.  "If  you  aint  busy 
I'll  sit  down  a  few  minutes." 

"We  are  glad  to  see  you  Mr.  Kent,"  said 
Ferguson.  "  Tom  and  I  were  discussing  our 
plans,  but  we've  plenty  of  time  for  that.  Come 
in.  Here's  a  place  for  you." 

"  I  hear  that  you  are  going  to  leave  us,  you 
two?" 

"  Yes,  Tom  has  some  business  in  San  Fran 
cisco,  and  I  want  to  see  a  little  more  of  the 
country." 

"  How   are  you  going?" 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  123 

"  We'll  take  the  cars  if  we  can  find  any," 
answered  Tom.  "If  we  can't  we'll  foot  it." 

"  That's  what  I  came  to  see  you  about.  You 
know  I've  got  a  horse  and  wagon." 

"Yes." 

"Why  don't  you  buy  it?  You'll  go  easier  and 
quicker." 

"We  can't  afford  it,"  said  Ferguson.  "Poor 
men  must  walk." 

"  You  don't  see  the  point.  When  you  get 
through  with  the  team,  you  can  easily  sell  them 
for  more  than  you  gave.  It  will  be  a  good  specu 
lation." 

"  That  will  depend  on  how  much  we  give," 
said  the  Scotchman,  shrewdly. 

"  To  be  sure,  Mr.  Ferguson.  Now  about 
that,  I'll  be  easy.  They  aint  any  good  to  me 
here.  I'll  take  —  let  me  see  —  four  hundred  dollars 
cash.  You'll  maybe  double  your  money  inside  of 
a  month." 

The  team  did  seem  cheap  at  this  price,  as 
prices  of  all  articles  in  a  new  country  are  very 
much  enhanced. 


124  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

"  Tom  and  I  will  talk  it  over  and  let  you 
know  to-morrow  morning,"  said  Ferguson. 

"That's  all  right.  "  It's  a  good  chance  for 
you." 

When  Kent  was  gone  Tom  asked,  "  What  do 
you  think  of  his  offer,  Mr.  Ferguson?" 

u  I  think  it  will  be  a  good  investment,  Tom, 
and  that  we  shall  be  less  likely  to  be  robbed 
than  if  we  carried  gold-dust  with  us.  You  know 
how  John  Miles  got  robbed." 

"I  have  only  a  hundred  dollars,"  said  Tom, 
doubtfully. 

•'  I  have  enough  to  add  to  it,  but  I  think  we 
can  get  the  team  cheaper.  I  don't  want  to  beat 
the  man  down,  but  a  bargain  is  a  bargain,  and 
we  must  look  out  for  our  own  interest." 

4 'You  know  more  about  such  things  than  I 
do,  Mr.  Ferguson ;  I  will  agree  to  anything  you 
say." 

"Very  well,  my  lad,  I  shall  be  sure  to  con 
sult  your  interest  as  well  as  my  own.  It  wil] 
be  very  comfortable  for  us  to  have  a  team  of 


/ 

• 
TOM    NELSON    IN   CALIFORNIA.  125 

"  It  will  seem  strange  to  me,"  said  Tom,  laugh 
ing.  "  What  will  they  think  at  home  when  they 
hear  that  I  have  set  up  a  carriage?" 

"  They  might  think  it  imprudent  to  invest  all 
you  had  in  that  way;  but  we'll  make  money  out 
of  it  yet,  or  I  am  sorely  mistaken." 

The  next  morning,  while  Tom  and  Ferguson 
were  at  work,  Kent  came  up  to  them. 

"What  have  you  decided  about  the  team?" 
he  asked. 

"We  are  not  willing  to  pay  four  hundred 
dollars,"  said  Ferguson. 

"  That's   a  fair  price." 

"It  may  be,  but  it  will  take  all  the  money 
Tom  and  I  can  raise.  You  know  it  wouldn't 
be  quite  prudent  for  us  to  part  with  all  our 
funds." 

"I   will   take   a   note    for    part  of  the   money," 

said   Kent. 

"That's  very  considerate  of  you,  but  scarcely 
prudent." 

"Then  don't  you  want  it  at  all?"  asked  Kent, 
disappointed. 


126  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OJJ, 

"  Yes ;  we  are  prepared  with  an  offer.  We'll 
give  you  three  hundred  dollars." 

Kent  shook  his   head. 

"  That's   too   little,"   he   said. 

Ferguson  remained  silent.  He  wished  to  give 
Kent  time  to  reflect  upon  his  offer. 

"  Have  you  sold  these  claims  of  yours  ? "  asked 
Kent,  after  a  pause. 

"  No." 

"Then  add  them  to  your  offer,  and  I  accept 
it." 

This  proposal  struck  Ferguson  favorably.  They 
could  not  carry  away  their  claims,  and  very 
possibly  no  other  purchaser  might  offer,  as,  except 
as  regards  location,  other  places  along  the  river- 
bank  could  be  had  without  cost. 

' '  What  do  you   say,  Tom  ? "  asked   Ferguson. 

"I   agree   if  you  do,   Mr.   Ferguson." 

"Then  it's  a  bargain,  Mr.  Kent.  I  hope  it'll 
prove  satisfactory  to  both  of  us." 

"I  don't  think  you'll  regret  it.  It's  a  good 
speculation." 

When     the    two    friends    had    settled     for    their 


TOM    NELSON    IN   CALIFORNIA.  127 

purchase,  Tom  paying  one  hundred  and  Ferguson 
two  hundred  dollars,  our  hero  found  himself  left 
with  twenty  dollars,  or  its  equivalent  in  gold- 
dust,  while  his  companion  had  about  one  hun 
dred  and  fifty  left  over. 

"We  shall  go  off  in  style,"  said  Tom;  "riding 
in.  our  own  carriage.  But  there's  one  thing  I 
have  been  thinking  of.  I  want  to  send  a  hundred 
dollars  home  as  soon  as  I  get  the  chance.  Sup 
pose  we  can't  sell  the  team?" 

"Have  no  fears  about  that,  Tom.  I'll  lend 
you  the  money  if  that  is  the  case ;  but,  mark  my 
word,  we  shan't  have  it  left  on  our  hands,  of 
that  you  may  be  sure." 

The  night  before  they  were  to  start  Lawrence 
Peabody  dropped  in.  He  was  looking  down  in 
the  mouth. 

"How  does  the  world  use  you,  Mr.  Peabody?" 
inquired  Tom. 

"Fortune  is  against  me,"  said  Peabody.  "I'm 
tired  of  River  Bend." 

Tom  glanced  at  his  companion.  He  could  guess 
what  was  coming. 


128  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

i  'Won't  you  take  me  with  you,  Tom?"  entreated 
the  }roung  Bostonian. 

"  You  must  ask  Mr.  Ferguson.  He  is  the  head 
of  our  party." 

Peabody  looked  appealingly  towards  Ferguson , 
but  the  Scotchman  shook  his  head. 

uYou  mustn't  be  offended,  Mr.  Peabody,"  he 
said,  "  when  I  tell  you  that  you  are  responsible 
for  your  own  bad  luck.  You  have  had  just  as 
good  a  chance  as  Toin  or  I." 

"Your  claim   was  better." 

"  There  was  no  difference  that  I  can  see,  except 
that  we  worked,  and  you  didn't.  You  don't  expect 
gold  to  come  to  you?" 

"You  and  Tom  are  more  used  to  hard  work 
than  I,"  murmured  Peabody. 

"  If  you  did  not  feel  able  to  work,  you  should 
not  have  come  to  California.  A  man  must  work 
harder  here  than  at  home,  and  then  he  stands  a 
chance  of  succeeding  better." 

"Then  you  won't  take  me?"  asked  Peabody, 
sadly. 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  129 

"Are    you    in    debt    to    Captain    Fletcher    for 
board?" 

Peabody  reluctantly  admitted  that  he  was,  but 
had  no  idea  how  much  he  owed. 

' '  Fletcher  tells  me  that  he  shall  not  trust  you 
any  longer." 

Lawrence   Peabody   looked  frightened. 

"What  shall  I  do?"  he  faltered.  "I  shall 
starve." 

"You  can't  blame  the  captain;  he  knows  that 
you  spend  the  little  money  you  do  earn  at  the 
saloon.  But  he  will  give  you  a  chance.  There 
is  no  one  to  wash  clothes  in  the  camp,  and  we 
have  all  observed  that  you  keep  yours  looking 
well.  If  you  will  set  up  a  laundry,  you  can 
make  more  money  than  in  any  other  way." 

4 'But  then  I  should  be  a  common  washer 
woman,"  objected  Peabody.  "What  would  my 
friends  in  Boston  say?" 

"They  won't  hear  of  it.  Besides,  a  man  can 
do  here  what  he  would  not  do  at  home." 

It  may  be  stated  here  that  Peabody,  finding 
work  absolutely  needful,  went  into  partnership 


100  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OJ2, 

with  a  Chinaman,  who  arrived  at  the  camp  a  day 
or  two  later,  and  succeeded  in  making  a  fair 
living,  which  hitherto  he  had  been  unable  to  do. 
After  he  was  employed,  his  visits  to  the  saloon 
became  less  frequent.  At  times  he  was  disturbed 
by  the  fear  that  his  friends  at  home  might  learn 
the  character  of  his  employment ;  apart  from 
this  he  found  his  new  business,  with  the  income 
it  yielded,  not  distasteful. 


TOM   NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  131 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

A  NEW  ACQUAINTANCE. 

HAVING  made  all  necessary  preparations,  Fergu 
son  and  Tom  set  out  on  their  way.  They  took 
a  course  differing  somewhat  from  that  chosen  by 
John  Miles,  one  object  being  to  survey  the 
country,  and  find,  if  possible,  a  suitable  place  for 
continuing  their  search  for  gold.  After  their  three 
months'  steady  work  both  of  our  travellers  were 
prepared  to  enjoy  the  journey.  Their  road  was 
difficult  at  times,  from  its  steepness,  and  more 
than  once  they  found  it  necessary,  out  of  consid 
eration  for  the  horse,  to  get  out  and  walk.  But 
this  only  added  to  the  romantic  charm  of  the  trip. 

"It's  like  a  constant  picnic,"  said  Tom.  "I 
should  like  to  travel  this  way  for  a  year,  if  I 
did  not  feel  the  need  of  working." 

"  We  might  tire  of  it  after  a  while,"  suggested 
Ferguson,  —  "in  tlie  rainy  season,  for  example," 


132  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

"  That  would  not  be  so  pleasant,  to  be  sure," 
Tom  admitted.  "  Do  you  have  such  fine  scenery 
in  Scotland,  Mr.  Ferguson  ? " 

u  Our  mountains  are  not  so  high,  my  lad,  nor 
our  trees  so  gigantic ;  but  it's  the  associations 
that  make  them  interesting.  Every  hill  has  a 
legend  connected  with  it,  and  our  great  novelist, 
Walter  Scott,  has  invested  them  with  a  charm  that 
draws  pilgrims  from  all  parts  of  the  world  to  see 
them.  Now  this  is  a  new  country  —  beautiful,  I 
grant,  but  without  a  histoiy.  Look  around  you, 
and  you  will  see  nothing  to  remind  you  of  man. 
It  is  nature  on  a  grand  scale,  I  admit,  but  the 
soul  is  wanting." 

"I  like  mountains,"  said  Tom,  thoughtfully. 
"  There  is  something  grand  about  them." 

"There  are  some  famous  mountains  in  your 
native  State,  New  Hampshire,  are  there  not,  Tom?' 

"Yes;  but  I  have  only  seen  them  from  a  dis 
tance.  They  are  not  above  thirty  miles  away 
from  where  I  was  born;  but  poor  people  don't 
travel  in  search  of  scenery,  Mr.  Ferguson." 

"No,  my  lad,  and   there's   another  thing  I  have 


TOM    NELSON    IN   CALIFORNIA.  133 

noticed.  We  don't  care  much  for  the  curiosities 
that  are  near  us.  The  people  about  here,  if  there 
are  any  settled  inhabitants,  care  nothing  about  the 
mountains,  I  doubt." 

u  That  is  true.  In  our  village  at  home  there 
is  an  old  man  nearly  eighty  years  old  who  has 
never  visited  the  mountains,  though  be  has  lived 
near  them  all  his  life." 

" 1  can  well  believe  it,  my  lad.  But  what  \9 
that?" 

The  sound  which  elicited  this  exclamation  was  a 
loud  u  Hollo  ! "  evidently  proceeding  from  some  one 
in  their  rear. 

Both  Tom  and  the  Scotchman  turned,  and  their 
eyes  rested  on  a  horseman  evidently  spurring  for 
ward  to  overtake  them.  Tom,  who  was  driving, 
reined  in  the  horse,  and  brought  him  to  a  stop. 
The  horseman  was  soon  even  with  them. 

He  was  evident^  a  Yankee.  All  Yankees  do 
not  carry  about  with  them  an  unmistakable  cer 
tificate  of  their  origin,  but  Ebenezer  Onthank  was 
a  typical  New  Englander.  His  face  was  long  and 
thin,  his  expression  shrewd  and  good-natured,  his 


134  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OJ2, 

limbs  were  long  and  ungainly.  In  later  life,  with 
the  addition  of  forty  or  fifty  pounds  of  flesh,  he 
would  be  much  improved  in  appearance. 

"  Good-morning,  gentlemen,'*  said  he.  u  It  seems 
kinder  good  to  see  a  human  face  again.  It  aint 
very  populous  round  here,  is  it?" 

u  We  haven't  seen  any  large  towns,"  said  Tom, 
smiling. 

"  Where  are  you  steerin'?"  inquired  the  Yankee. 
4 Tin  expectin'  to  fetch  up  at  San  Francisco  some 
time,  if  I  don't  get  lost  in  the  woods." 

"That  is  our  destination,  my  friend,"  returned 
Ferguson. 

"Would  you  mind  my  joining  your  part}7?" 
asked  Onthank.  "  It's  lonesome  travellin'  by  one's 
self  without  a  soul  to  speak  to." 

"  We  shall  be  glad  of  your  company,"  said 
the  Scotchman,  sincerely,  for,  though  naturally 
cautious,  he  could  not  suspect  the  new-comer  of 
anything  which  would  make  him  an  undesirable 
companion. 

"Perhaps  you'd  like  to  know  who  I  am,"  said 
the  new  acquaintance.  "  My  name  is  Ebenezer 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  135 

Onthank,  from  Green  Mountain  Mills,  in  Vermont. 
My  father  is  deacon  of  the  Baptist  Church  at 
home." 

"  I  suppose  you  will  take  his  place  when  you 
get  older,"  said  Tom,  gravely. 

"  No,  I  guess  not.  I  wonder  what  Susan 
Jones  would  say  to  my  bein'  a  deacon ! "  and 
Ebenezer  burst  into  a  loud  laugh. 

' '  Is  Miss  Jones  a  particular  friend  of  yours  ? " 
asked  Tom,  slyly. 

u  I  should  say  she  was.  Why,  I  expect  to 
marry  her  when  I  get  home." 

14 1   congratulate  you." 

"  Don't  be  too  fast.  We  aint  hitched  yet. 
Say,  boy,  where  do  you  come  from?" 

"  From  Vernon,   in   New  Hampshire." 

"  You  don't  say !  Why,  that  aint  more'n  fifty 
miles  from  Green  Mountain  Mills ;  cu'rus  we  should 
meet  so  fur  away  from  hum,  aint  it?  When  did 
you  start?" 

"  Seven   or  eight  months   ago." 

u  I've  been  in  California  six  months  Does 
that  gentleman  come  from  your  town?" 


136  THE     YOUNG    MINER;   0/J, 

"My  friend,"  answered  the  Scotchman,  not 
without  a  touch  of  pride,  "I  am  not  an  Amer 
ican  ;  I  am  from  the  Highlands  of  Scotland." 

"You  be?  Sho!  Well,  of  course  you  can't 
help  that." 

"Help  it,  sir?  I  am  proud  of  hailing  from 
the  land  of  Scott  and  Burns." 

"Well,  I  guess  it's  a  pretty  nice  sort  of 
country,"  said  Mr.  Onthank,  patronizingly.  "I 
guess  you'll  like  America  best,  though." 

"I  am  by  no  means  sure  of  that,  my  friend," 
said  Ferguson,  a  little  nettled.  "  America's  all 
very  well,  but — " 

"  Why,  you  could  put  Scotland  into  its  waist 
coat  pocket,  and  there'd  be  plenty  of  room  left," 
said  Ebenezer,  energetically. 

"  I  admit  that,  as  regards  size,  Scotland  cannot 
compare  with  this  country." 

"  Say,  have  you  got  mountains  as  high  as  them, 
or  trees  as  high  as  that  ? "  pointing  to  a  gigantic 

redwood.  ^jJ( . 

,     -T    ^^1 
"No;   but  size   is   not  evetything."  v& \   ^  (tf^ 

"  That's  so.     Vermont  is  a  little  State,  but  she'a 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  137 

smart,   I  tell  you.     But  you  haven't  told    me   your 
names  yet." 

"  I  am  called  Donald  Ferguson,  Mr.  Onthank. 
My  young  friend  here  answers  to  the  name  of 
Thomas  Kelson." 

"  Commonly  called  Tom,"  added  our  hero, 
smiling. 

"  Why,  I've  got  a  brother  Tom,"  said  Mr. 
Onthank.  "  Cu'rus,  isn't  it?" 

Considering  that  Tom  is  by  no  means  an  uncom 
mon  name,  it  could  hardly  be  called  very  remark 
able,  but  Tom  politely  assented. 

"Is  he   older   than   I   am?"  he  inquired. 
"  Yes,    my    brother    Tom    is    twenty-one    years 
old.     I  expect  he  voted   at  the   last  town-meeting. 
I'm   four  years   older  than   Tom." 

"  Have  you  been  fortunate  so  far  in  California, 
Mr.  Onthank?" 

"  Can't  say  I  have.  I  guess  I've  wandered  round 
too  much.  Been  a  sort  of  rollin'  stone  ;  and  my 
granny  used  to  say  that  a  rollin'  stone  gathers  no 
moss.  I've  got  about  enough  money  to  get  me  to 
San  Francisco,  and  I  own  this  animal;  but  J 


138  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

haven't  made  a  fortune  yet.  What  luck  have  you 
two  had?" 

"Pretty  fair,  but  it  will  take  a  good  while  to 
make  our  fortunes.  We  own  this  team,  and  that's 
about  all  we  do  own." 

UA   sort   of  an   express   wagon,   isn't  it?" 

"  Yes." 

"  Aint  goin'  into  the  express  business,  be 
you?" 

"Probably  not.     We  bought  it  on   speculation." 

"  That  reminds  me  of  old  Sam  Bailey  in  our 
town.  He  was  always  tradin'  horses.  Sometimes 
he  made  money,  and  then  again  he  didn't.  How 
much  did  you  give?" 

Tom   told  him. 

"  That  was   a  pretty  stiff  price,  wasn't  it?" 

"  It  would  be  considered  so  at  home,  but  we 
hope  to  get  a  good  deal  more,  when  we  come 
to  sell  it." 

Their  new  friend  kept  on  with  them,  amusing 
them  with  his  homely  sayings,  and  original  views 
of  things.  His  conversation  beguiled  the  tedium 
of  the  journey,  so  that  all  were  surprised  when 


TOM    NELSON    IN   CALIFORNIA. 

the  shadows  deepened,  and  supper-time  came. 
Selecting  a  favorable  place  they  encamped  for  the 
night. 


140  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OJZ, 


CHAPTER  XV. 

A    GRIZZLY   BEAR. 

EBENEZER  ONTHANK  was  an  early  riser.  He  had 
been  brought  up  on  a  farm,  where,  during  a  part 
of  the  year  it  was  the  custom  for  the  "  meufolks" 
to  rise  between  four  and  five  o'clock  in  the 
morning  to  begin  the  labors  of  the  day.  His  old 
habit  clung  to  him,  and  at  five  o'clock,  when 
Tom  and  Ferguson  were  yet  asleep,  Mr.  Onthank 
sprang  from  his  leafy  couch  refreshed  and  vig 
orous. 

Seeing  his  companions  yet  sleeping,  he  concluded 
to  take  a  walk. 

"  It'll  give  me  an  appetite  for  breakfast," 
thought  he,  "  and  a  chance  to  see  something  of 
the  country." 

As  to  the  appetite,  Ebenezer  was  generally 
well  provided.  Indeed,  latterly  his  appetite  had 
exceeded  his  means  of  gratifying  it,  and  more 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  141 

than  once  he  had  longed  to  be  back  at  his  old 
home  in  the  Vermont  farm-house,  where  the  table 
was  always  generously,  if  not  elegantly,  furnished. 
If  Ebenezer  had  a  special  weakness  it  was  for 
doughnuts,  which  he  called  nut-cakes. 

"If  I  only  had  a  few  of  marm's  nut-cakes," 
he  had  said  the  night  before  to  his  new-found 
friends,  "  I'd  be  a  happy  man." 

"What  are  nut-cakes?"  asked  the  Scotchman, 
puzzled. 

"Don't  you  know  what  nut-cakes  are?"  inquired 
Ebenezer,  astonished  at  Ferguson's  ignorance. 

"  I  never  heard  of  them  before,"  said   Ferguson. 

u  Well,  I  declare !  I  thought  everybody  knew 
what  nut-cakes  are,"  ejaculated  the  Yankee. 
"Don't  you  ever  make  'em  in  Scotland?" 

"Not  that  I   ever  heard." 

"  Then  you  don't  know  what  is  good.  You 
know  what  they  are,  Tom?" 

"Oh,  yes,"  said  Tom,  smiling.  "  We  often 
have  them  at  home.  Perhaps  Mr.  Ferguson  would 
understand  better  if  he  heard  them  called  dough 
nuts  or  crullers." 


142  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR^ 

Thus  defined  Mr.  Ferguson  acknowledged  that 
he  had  heard  of  them,  and  he  thought  he  had 
once  tasted  one.  Scotland,  however,  fell  consider 
ably  in  the  estimation  of  Mr.  Onthank,  when  he 
learned  that  his  favorite  article  of  food  was  almost 
unknown  in  that  distant  country. 

u  You  Scotchmen  don't  know  what  is  good," 
he  said.  "  If  you  ever  come  to  Green  Mountain 
Mills,  I'll  get  marm  to  fry  a  batch  of  nutcakes, 
and  you'll  say  they're  goloptious." 

This  last  word  was  not  familiar  to  Ferguson, 
but  the  smack  of  the  lips  with  which  it  was 
accompanied  made  it  sufficiently  intelligible.  He 
assured  Ebenezer  politely  that  he  hoped  some  day 
to  accept  his  kind  invitation. 

When  Ebenezer  left  the  camp  he  had  no  defi 
nite  plan  of  exploration.  Everything  was  alike 
new  to  him,  and  it  mattered  little  in  what  direc 
tion  his  steps  led  him.  It  was  a  charming 
morning.  The  sun  had  risen,  and  hill  and  vallej1" 
were  glorified  by  its  slanting  rays.  The  air  was 
bracing,  and  Ebenezer,  though  neither  a  poet  nor 
a  sentimentalist,  felt  his  spirits  rise,  as  with  vig- 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  143 

orous  steps  he  strode  on,  letting  his  eyes  wander 
at  will  over  the  landscape. 

4 'Looks  kinder  han'some,"  he  said  to  himself. 
"  I  wish  Susan  Jones  was  with  me  now.  Gals 
like  to  walk  round  and  look  at  scenery,  and 
pick  flowers,  and  so  on.  As  for  me,  a  good 
field  of  corn  suits  me  better  than  all  the  flowers 
in  the  world.  They're  only  good  to  smell  of; 
out  here  though  I'd  like  a  good  '  claim '  best. 
It  seems  cu'rus  to  think  how  much  money  you 
can  get  sometimes  from  a  hole  in  the  ground. 
Beats  cornfields  for  profit,  by  a  great  sight,  if 
you  only  get  hold  of  the  right  place.  I  just 
wish  I  could  find  a  big  nugget,  as  big  as  my 
head.  I  guess  it  would  make  me  the  richest 
man  in  Green  Mountain  Mills.  I'd  be  a  bigger 
man  than  the  old  deacon.  They'd  be  glad  to 
make  me  selectman,  and  perhaps  send  me  to 
Montpelier  after  a  while  to  make  laws.  Well, 
there's  no  knowin'  what  may  turn  up.  Why 
shouldn't  I  light  on  a  nugget  as  well  as  the 
next  man?" 

In  this   pleasant    channel  the    thoughts    of    our 


144  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    Ofl, 

Yankee  adventurer  were  running  as  he  strode  over 
the  uneven  ground,  with  all  the  vigor  gained  by 
his  hardy  training.  But  his  walk  was  destined 
to  be  interrupted  in  a  decidedly  unpleasant  man 
ner.  All  at  once  he  became  conscious  of  a  huge 
object,  scarcely  thirty  yards  distant,  whose  at 
tention  he  had  already  attracted.  Mr.  Onthank 
had  been  long  enough  in  California  to  recognize 
in  the  huge,  unwieldy  figure  —  a  grizzly  bear! 

Ebenezer  Onthank  was  no  coward,  but  it  must 
be  admitted  that  when  he  saw  the  eyes  of  the 
grizzly  fixed  upon  him  he  turned  pale,  and  his 
limbs  trembled.  He  had  heard  from  fellow-miners 
stories  of  the  great  strength  and  ferocity  of  this 
most  formidable  beast.  The  grizzly  bear  shows 
no  fear  of  man.  He  is  always  ready  to  make 
an  attack,  even  when  not  stimulated  by  hunger. 
Even  the  lion  is  crafty  and  cunning,  and  likes 
to  attack  his  enemy  unawares ;  but  the  grizzly 
boldly  advances  to  the  attack  without  seeking  to 
surprise  his  adversary.  If  out  of  humor  it  makes 
no  account  of  odds,  but  will  as  readily  attack  a 
party  as  a  single  foe.  Col.  Albert  S.  Evans, 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  •  145 

the  author  of  an  interesting  volume,  containing 
sketches  of  life  in  California,  sa3*s,  "  I  am  satis 
fied  that  an  average  grizzly  could  at  any  time 
whip  the  strongest  African  lion  in  a  fair  stand- 
up  fight,  while  a  full-grown  bull  is  no  more  to 
him  than  a  rat  is  to  the  largest  house-cats." 

Twenty-five  years  ago  the  grizzly  was  to  be 
found  in  various  parts  of  California.  As  the 
State  has  become  settled  his  haunts  have  become 
contracted,  but  even  now,  as  the  writer  just 
quoted  assures  us,  he  is  still  found  in  great 
numbers  in  the  Coast  Range  Mountains  from  San 
Diego  to  Del  Norte.  In  describing  Samson,  a 
famous  specimen  once  on  exhibition  in  San 
Francisco,  we  are  told  that  "  his  strength  was 
that  of  an  elephant,  and  his  claws,  eight  inches 
in  length,  curved  like  a  rainbow  and  sharp  as  a 
knife,  would  enable  him  to  tear  open  anything 
made  of  flesh  and  blood  as  you  or  I  would  open 
a  banana." 

Such  was  the  new  acquaintance  who  confronted 
Mr.  Onthank,  and  barred  his  progress. 

"  Jerusalem ! "    ejaculated    the   suprised   and    dis- 


146  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OJZ, 

mayed  Yankee,  and  he  instinctively  felt  for  his 
rifle.  But,  alas !  he  had  left  it  in  the  camp.  It 
was  thoughtless  and  imprudent  to  venture  out 
unarmed ;  but  the  scene  was  so  quiet  and  peace 
ful  that  no  thought  of  danger  had  entered  the 
mind  of  our  unlucky  friend. 

The  bear  sat  ilpon  his  haunches,  and  stared 
at  the  intruder.  Ebenezer,  brought  to  a  stand 
still,  returned  his  gaze.  They  were  less  than  a 
hundred  feet  apart,  and  the  situation  was  de 
cidedly  critical. 

u  I  guess  he  wants  to  chaw  me  up  for  his 
breakfast,"  thought  Ebenezer,  despairingly,  "  and 
I  don't  see  what  I  can  do  to  prevent  it." 

The  bear,  however,  seemed  in  no  hurry  to 
commence  the  attack.  He  surveyed  our  Yankee 
with  dignified  gravity,  conscious  that  he  had  him 
at  advantage.  When  Ebenezer,  felt  for  his  rifle 
he  uttered  a  low  growl,  being  possibly  aware  of 
his  purpose.  Possibly  he  laughed  in  his  sleeve 
(some  of  my  young  critics  may  suggest  that 
bears  have  no  sleeves)  at  his  failure. 

Ebenezer   looked    about    him    despairingly.      No 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  147 

man  will  surrender  at  discretion  to  a  grizzly,  for 
he  can  hope  for  no  mercy.  But  what  could  be 
done?  Once  subjected  to  the  terrible  hug,  and  the 
life  would  be  crushed  out  of  him  in  less  than  a 
minute. 

"  If  Ferguson  and  Tom  were  only  here  !  "  thought 
poor  Ebenezer. 

But  the  camp  was  at  least  two  miles  away, 
and  his  two  companions,  unconscious  of  his  ter 
rible  peril,  were  calmly  sleeping,  and  not  likely 
to  awaken  till  he  was  a  crushed  and  bleeding 
corpse. 

In  great  crises  the  mind  travels  rapidly.  I 
shall  not  attempt  to  record  the  thoughts  that 
chased  one  another  through  the  mind  of  the  luck 
less  adventurer.  But  they  were  by  no  means 
pleasant. 

"  I  shall  never  see  Green  Mountain  Mills  again," 
he  thought,  with  an  inward  groan.  "  I  shall  never 
marry  Susan  Jones,  or  eat  any  of  marm's  nut- 
cakes.  If  I  only  had  my  rifle  here,  I'd  make 
one  effort  for  my  life.  I'd  spoil  the  beauty  of 
that  ugly  devil  anyhow." 


148  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

Still,  as  if  charmed,  he  stood  staring  open-eyed 
at  the  grizzly. 

Bruin,  deciding  that  this  had  lasted  long  enough, 
began  in  a  slow  and  dignified  manner  to  approach 
the  intruder  upon  his  solitude. 

This  broke  the  charm.  With  a  wild  shout 
Ebenezer  Onthank  took  to  his  heels  and  flew 
over  the  ground  at  a  rate  of  speed  which  Weston, 
the  champion  runner,  would  scarcely  be  able  to 
equal. 

The  grizzly  accepted  the  challenge,  and  in 
creased  his  own  speed,  developing  an  activity  hardly 
to  be  expected  of  his  huge  and  unwieldy  form. 

It  was  man  against  beast,  with  the  odds 
decidedly  in  the  favor  of  the  latter. 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  149 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

UP    A    TREE. 

THE  race  between  the  Yankee  and  the  bear  was 
an  exciting  one,  to  the  former  at  least.  He  was 
fleet  of  foot,  and  in  a  hundred  yards'  dash  would 
have  won  without  great  difficulty ;  but  in  wind  and 
endurance  the  grizzly  excelled  him.  So,  as  the 
race  continued,  Mr.  Onthank,  looking  back  from 
time  to  time,  was  painfully  conscious  that  his 
enemy  was  gaining  upon  him.  The  perspiration 
came  out  upon  his  face  in  large  drops,  and  he 
panted  painfulry.  He  felt  that  the  chances  were 
against  him,  and  he  could  almost  feel  in  advance 
the  fatal  hug  which  would  slowly  press  the  life 
out  of  him.  As  he  felt  his  strength  failing  he 
looked  around  him  despairingly.  Just  before  him 
was  a  moderate-sized  tree.  Though  he  knew  that 
bears  can  climb,  he  gathered  his  remaining  strength, 
seized  a  low  hanging  branch,  and  swung  himself 


150  THE     YOUNG    MINER;   OR, 

up  just  in  time  to  avoid  his  persistent  foe,  who 
was  close  upon  his  heels.  He  did  not  tarry 
where  he  was,  but  climbed  higher  up,  until  from 
a  height  of  twenty  feet  he  could  look  down  upon 
the  bear. 

Bruin  looked  up  placidly,  but  did  not  begin  to 
climb  at  once.  Probably  he  was  fatigued  with 
his  race.  Moreover  he  knew  that  his  intended 
victim  could  not  get  away.  The  latter  was 
emphatically  and  literally  "  treed."  The  bear  sat 
upon  his  haunches  and  complacently  regarded  the 
Yankee. 

Ebenezer  Onthank  made  himself  as  comfortable 
as  he  could  under  the  circumstances.  He  was  by 
no  means  easy  in  mind,  however.  He  was  "  hold 
ing  the  fort,"  it  is  true ;  but  the  enemy  was  in 
force  outside,  and  evidently  intended  to  remain. 
Worse  still,  he  would  probably  after  a  while 
climb  the  tree,  and  this  would  bring  matters  to 
a  crisis. 

"  You  pesky  critter!  Why  don't  you  go  along 
about  your  business  ? "  exclaimed  the  unhappy 
adventurer,  shaking  his  fist  at  the  foe. 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  151 

Bruin  deigned  no  reply,  but  continued  to  sur 
vey  him  with  steady,  unwinking  eyes. 

"If  I  only  had  a  gun,  I'd  pepper  you,"  con 
tinued  Ebenezer.  "  I  should  like  to  put  a  bullet 
into  that  impudent  eye  of  yours." 

Though  the  bear  had  never  received  an  English 
education,  his  instinct  probably  enabled  him  to 
understand  the  feelings  of  his  intended  victim, 
but  he  remained  as  placid  as  ever. 

So  an  hour  passed.  At  the  end  of  that  time 
the  situation  remained  unchanged.  The  unfortunate 
Yankee  was  getting  hungry,  as  well  as  tired  of 
his  somewhat  constrained  position.  Bears  prob 
ably  have  more  patience  than  the  human  family, 
for  Bruin  had  scarcely  moved,  except  occasionally 
to  wag  his  great  head.  He  felt  that  in  the  game 
that  was  being  played  it  was  his  adversary's 
turn  to  make  the  next  move. 

u  I  wish  Tom  and  the  Scotchman  would  find 
me  out,"  thought  Onthank.  "  What  on  earth 
makes  them  sleep  so  late?"  he  continued,  irritably, 
uThey  must  be  naturally  lazy." 

He  may  be   excused   for  feeling  irritated,  though 


152  THE   YOUSG  MINER;  ox, 

there  was  no  particular  reason  to  expect  his  two 
friends  to  curtail  their  hours  of  slumber  because 
he  had  done  so.  But  he  was  not  in  a  position 
where  it  is  easy  to  be  reasonable,  and  in  his 
situation  every  minute  seemed  to  him  as  long  as 
five. 

Meanwhile,  in  the  camp,  a  mile  away,  Tom  and 
Ferguson  had  awakened. 

u  How  did  you  sleep,  Tom?"  asked  the 
Scotchman. 

4 'Tip-top.     Did   you   rest  well?" 

"  I  have  a  gift  of  sleep,"  replied  Ferguson. 
"But  where  is  our  Yankee  friend?" 

"  I  suppose  he  has  taken  an  early  walk,"  said 
Tom.  "  He  will  be  back  before  long,  I  guess. 
We'd  better  not  wait  breakfast  for  him.  I'm 
hungry  for  one." 

The  two  friends  proceeded  to  break  their  fast, 
washing  down  the  rather  stale  provisions  with 
water  from  a  spring  near  by. 

"  I  wish  it  were  coffee,"  said  Tom.  "  I'm  tired 
of  cold  water." 

4  4  Bootless   the   coffee   would  be   more    gratifying 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  153 

to  the  palate,  Tom ;  but  it's  likely  the  water  is 
better  for  the  health." 

4 '  I  suppose  you  would  refuse  a  cup  of  hot 
coffee,  Mr.  Ferguson,  if  it  were  offered  }rou,"  said 
Tom,  smiling. 

"I  don't  say  that,  Tom.  I  would  risk  its 
effect  upon  my  health  for  once.  But,  as  we 
haven't  got  it,  we  may  as  well  make  the  best 
of  what  we  have." 

Soon  after  their  simple  meal,  which  did  not 
consume  much  time,  Tom  suggested  to  his  com 
panion  that  they  set  out  in  search  of  Mr. 
Oiithank.  He  did  not  suspect  that  their  missing 
companion  was  in  trouble,  but  he  thought  that 
it  would  be  pleasant  to  take  a  walk. 

"  You  can  go,  if  you  like,  Tom,"  said  Fer 
guson,  with  characteristic  caution.  "I  will  remain 
behind  to  look  after  the  camp." 

"All  right,  Mr.  Ferguson.     I'll  soon  be  back." 

"  Don't  go  too  far  away,  my  lad ;  and  mind 
jour  bearings,  so  that  yon  can  find  your  way 
back." 

4 'Never    fear,    Mr.    Ferguson.      It    wouldn't    be 


154  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

very  easy  to  be  lost  here.  I'll  keep  my  eyes  open, 
and  bring  Mr.  Onthank  back  with  me  if  I  see 
him  anywhere." 

Ferguson  sat  down,  and  indulged  himself  in 
reading,  probably  for  the  hundredth  time,  Walter 
Scott's  Marmion,  of  which  he  hat!  a  small  pocket 
edition  ;  while  Tom  went  on  his  way. 

A  fortunate  chance  directed  our  hero  by  an 
almost  straight  course  to  the  very  cree  where 
Ebenezer  Onthank  was  still  perched  with  the 
grizzly  standing  guard  beneath.  From  time  to 
time  he  looked  about  him  anxiously,  in  the  hope 
of  seeing  the  approach  of  one  of  his  travelling 
companions. 

It  was  with  a  feeling  of  joy,  not  wholly  un- 
mingled  with  anxiety,  that  he  descried  Tom 
descending  a  hillock  not  many  rods  away.  As 
yet  it  was  evident  that  our  hero  had  not  caught 
sight  of  the  bear  and  his  prisoner.  It  was  very 
necessary  to  put  him  on  his  guard. 

"  Tom ! "  shouted  Mr.  Onthank,  at  the  top  of 
his  voice. 

Tom  heard  the  call  in  spite  of  the  distance,  and 


TOM    NELSON    IN    CALIFORNIA.  155 

looked  about  him,  but  did  not  immediately  catch 
sight  of  the  speaker.  It  did  not  occur  to  him  to 
look  upwards. 

"Tom!"  shouted  the  Yankee  again.  "  Here  I 
am.  Look  up  in  the  tree." 

That  time  Tom's  glance  detected  his  companion, 
and,  not  yet  having  discovered  the  bear,  he  was 
led  to  ,  wonder  why  Mr.  Onthank  had  climbed 
the  tree.  As  he  was  advancing  incautiously, 
Onthank  shouted  again,  "There's  a  cursed  grizzly 
under  the  tree.  Don't  come  too  near." 

Tom  saw  the  bear,  and  he  paused  suddenly. 
He  was  startled  in  truth,  for  he  had  been  long 
enough  in  California  to  be  aware  that  it  was  a 
dangerous  beast. 

"Isn't  Ferguson  with  you?"  asked  Onthank, 
anxiously,  for  he  knew  that  a  boy  of  sixteen, 
even  if  armed,  was  no  match  for  the  king  of 
the  California  sierras. 

"  No,  he's  behind  in  the  camp,"  shouted  Tom, 
in  reply. 

By  this  time  the  bear  became  aware  that  there 
was  a  second  intruder  within  his  precincts.  He 


156  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

turned  his  head  deliberately  and  surveyed  our  hero. 
It  is  not  within  the  range  of  the  author  to  read 
the  thoughts  of  a  grizzly,  but,  from  the  indiffer 
ence  with  which  he  turned  away  and  resumed 
his  watch,  it  may  be  inferred  that  he  considered 
Tom  too  small  game  to  merit  his  attention.  This 
was  rather  satisfactory  to  our  young  hero,  who 
was  not  ambitious  to  come  in  close  quarters  with 
so  formidable  an  antagonist. 

Startled  as  he  was,  Tom  maintained  his  ground. 
He  wanted  to  help  Onthank ;  but  he  did  not  know 
how  to  do  it. 

"What  can  I  do  to  help  you,  Mr.  Onthank?" 
shouted  Tom. 

"  Blamed  if  I  know,"  answered  the  Yankee, 
helplessly.  "  I  wish  Ferguson  were  here.  It  won't 
do  for  you  to  attack  the  beast  single-handed." 

"Shall  I  go   back  for   Ferguson?"    asked   Tom. 

"I   don't   know;   how   far   away   is  the   camp?" 

"  It  must   be   as   much   as   a  mile." 

"  While  you  are  away  the  brute  may  take  it 
_nto  his  head  to  climb  the  tree,  and  then  I  am 
gone  up." 


TOM    NELSON    IN   CALIFORNIA.  157 

"  Haven't  you   any   weapon?" 

"  No." 

"  I'll   fire   at   the   bear   if  you   say   so." 

"  It  would  be  of  no  use.  If  }-ou  missed,  or 
only  grazed  him,  he  would  make  for  you." 

"  I   wish  you   had   my   rifle,"   said  Tom. 

"  So  do  I.  I'd  let  him  have  it  straight  in  the 
eye.  Have  you  had  breakfast?" 

"  Yes." 

u  I'm  as  hungry  as  a  bear  —  as  this  bear  who 
probably  wants  me  for  his  breakfast.  O  Toua, 
if  I  was  only  back  at  Green  Mountain  Mills  once 
more,  I'd  be  content  to  live  and  die  there,  and 
all  the  gold  in  California,  wouldn't  bring  me  out 
here  again." 

Tom  stood  silent  and  perplexed.  While  he  was 
considering  whether  he  could  do  anything  to  help 
his  friend,  the  bear  slowly  rose,  approached  the 
tree,  and,  grasping  it  between  his  paws,  prepared 
to  climb.  He  was  evidently  tired  of  waiting. 

u  He's  coming,  Tom  !  "  shouted  Onthank.  "  0 
Lord,  what  shall  I  do?" 


158  THE     YOUNG    MINER;   OR, 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

AN   EXCITING   PURSUIT. 

MR  ONTHANK'S  reflections  when  the  grizzly  was 
slowly  but  steadtty  climbing  the  tree  were  by  no 
means  pleasant. 

"If  he  once  grips  me,  I  am  gone,"  he  said, 
despairing^. 

"Shall  I  shoot?"  asked  Tom,  looking  on  in 
excitement. 

"You  might  hit  me,"  said  Ebenezer,  who  knew 
nothing  of  Tom's  skill  as  a  marksman. 

"No,   I  won't." 

"I  think  I'll  swing  off,"  said  the  Yankee,  "and 
join  you." 

Whether  this  was  or  was  not  a  wise  thing  to 
do  Tom  did  not  feel  qualified  to  decide.  It 
was  evident  that  Onthank  must  do  something 
speedily,  or  he  would  be  in  the  power  of  the  bear. 
He  waited  nervously  till  Bruin  was  uncomfortably 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  169 

near,  and  then,  seizing  the  branch  with  his  hands, 
swung  to  the  ground.  The  height  was  considera 
ble,  and  the  fall  jarred  him ;  but,  quickly  recov 
ering  himself,  he  ran  towards  Tom. 

"  Now  we  must  run  for  our  lives,  Tom,"  he 
said,  suiting  the  action  to  the  word. 

Tom  fully  understood  the  necessity,  and  followed 
suit,  first  hazarding  a  glance  at  the  discomfited 
bear. 

When  the  grizzly  witnessed  the  escape  of  his 
victim  he  showed  no  excitement,  nor  did  he 
accelerate  his  motions.  He  began  deliberately  to 
back  down  the  tree.  This  required  some  little 
time,  which  Tom  and  his  friend  made  the  most 
of. 

"  Give  me  your  rifle,"   said   Onthank. 

"  I'd  rather  keep   it,"   said   Tom. 

"  I  can  make  better  use  of  it,"  said  the  Yankee. 

"I  don't  know  about  that,"  said  Tom.  "At 
any  rate  I  will  keep  it." 

He  felt  that  it  was  hardly  reasonable  to  expect 
him,  in  the  presence  of  such  a  danger,  to  give 
up  his  only  instrument  of  defence. 


160  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    07Z, 

"  You  are  only  a  boy,"  said  his  companion, 
discontented. 

41 1   can   shoot,"    answered   Tom,  briefly. 

Onthank  was  not  in  general  an  unreasonable 
man,  but  danger  makes  men  selfish. 

u  Give  it  to  me,"  he  said,  in  a  tone  of  author 
ity,  and  ha  tried  to  wrest  it  from  Tom's  hands. 

"You  shall  not  have  it,"  exclaimed  Tom,  in 
dignantly.  "  Take  away  your  hand,  or  I'll  shoot 
you !  " 

Of  course  Tom  was  excited,  and  would  not 
have  carried  out  his  threat,  but  he  was  fully 
resolved  to  stand  up  for  his  rights. 

Whether  Ebenezer  would  have  yielded  the  point, 
being  stronger  than  Tom,  is  uncertain ;  but  our 
hero  shouted  ' '  Look  out  for  the  bear ! "  and  the 
Yankee,  in  alarm,  released  his  hold,  and  the  two 
entered  upon  a  race,  in  which  the  Yankee's  supe 
rior  length  of  limb  enabled  him  to  keep  the  first 
place. 

Bruin  was  now  on  terra  firma,  and  was  on  his 
way,  wagging  his  great  head,  developing  an 
alarming  rate  of  speed.  Tom  was  somewhat  ham- 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  161 

pered  by  the  weapon  which  he  carried,  ami  he 
was  getting  out  of  breath.  Onthank  was  three  or 
four  rods  ahead  of  him.  The  situation  had 
changed,  and  it  was  now  Tom  that  was  in  the 
greater  peril. 

"  Don't  give  out,  Tom ! "  called  out  Ebenezer, 
encouragingly. 

"I   won't,"  gasped  Tom,  "if  I   can   help   it." 

4 '  Is   he  gaining  on   us  ?  " 

"  Yes,"   returned   our  hero. 

"  Then  I'll  try  another  tree,"  said  Onthank,  and 
he  caught  a  branch,  and  clambered  up  into  a 
tree  quite  similar  to  the  other  in  which  he  had 
been  besieged. 

Tom  would  gladly  have  followed  his  example, 
but  the  branch  was  too  high  for  him  to  reach 
readily,  and  the  grizzly  was  too  near  to  give  him 
adequate  time.  Poor  bo}7 !  He  began  to  despair, 
and  was  at  an  utter  loss  what  to  do.  To  face 
round  and  fire  at  the  foe  seemed  about  all  that 
was  left  him,  but  he  wanted  to  reserve  his  fire 
to  the  last.  He  caught  sight  of  another  trcti,  of 
a  larger  trunk  than  the  one  which  Onthank  hud 


162  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

ascended,  and  ran  towards  it,  pursued  by  the 
grizzly.  Then  commenced  a  dodging  game,  which 
seemed  to  afford  but  a  brief  respite  from  de 
struction. 

"  This  can't  last  long,"  thought  poor  Tom. 
"  I  suppose  I  must  die." 

In  that  brief  time  of  peril  many  thoughts 
passed  through  his  mind.  To  die  at  his  age 
would  be  sad  enough;  but  the  thought  that  his 
expedition  would  be  a  failure,  only  involving  his 
father  deeper  in  difficulty  and  debt  chiefly  troubled 
him.  The  mortgage  would  be  foreclosed,  and 
his  father  and  whole  family  deprived  of  their 
humble  home.  Onthank  watched  the  boy's  peril, 
unable  to  give  him  assistance.  To  do  him  jus 
tice  he  almost  forgot  his  own  danger  in  the  more 
apparent  and  immediate  peril  of  his  young  com 
panion. 

"  Be    careful  ! "    he    shouted,    quite    needlessly 
"  Don't   let  him  grip  you.     Give  it   to    him  right 
in   the   eye." 

Tom  was  so  absorbed,  and  his  mind  so  pain 
fully  occupied  by  his  efforts  to  keep  out  of  his 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  163 

enemy's  clutches,  that  he  was  not  conscious  of 
the  warning. 

Active  and  alert  as  he  was,  the  result  wa8 
hardly  a  matter  of  doubt.  He  would  tire  sooner 
than  the  bear,  and  if  he  ran  again  he  was  sure  to 
be  overtaken.  This,  however,  was  what  he  did. 
Of  course  the  grizzly  instantly  pursued  him. 
Poor  Tom  breathed  a  prayer  for  help,  though 
there  seemed  no  chance  of  his  pra}*er  being 
answered ;  but  sometimes  God  sends  assistance 
when  there  seems  no  chance  of  escape. 

The  galloping  of  a  horse  was  heard.  There  was 
a  whirling  sound,  and  Bruin,  already  within  two 
yards  of  Tom,  was  jerked  back,  and  brought  to 
a  stand-still  by  a  lasso  which  wound  about  his 
neck.  A  shout  caused  Tom  suddenty  to  turn  his 
head,  and  to  his  joy  he  saw  a  mounted  Mexican 
vaquero,  who  had  brought  him  timely  relief. 

Bruin  growled  angrily  on  finding  himself  balked 
of  his  prey.  He  was  not  disposed  to  yield  to 
his  new  antagonist.  Rising  and  sitting  on  his 
haunches  he  began  coolly  to  draw  in  the  lasso, 
against  the  combined  strength  of  man  and  horse. 


164  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    0/J, 

The  muscular  force  of  a  big  grizzly  is  simply 
enormous.  Usually  he  is  attacked  from  two  sides, 
two  lassos  being  thrown  around  him.  For  a  single 
antagonist  he  is  sometimes  more  than  a  match, 
as  seemed  likely  in  the  present  case.  The  rieta 
being  attached  to  the  pommel  of  the  saddle,  of 
course  the  bear,  in  pulling  as  he  did,  hand  over 
hand,  steadily  brought  the  vaquero  and  his  steed 
nearer.  The  horse,  terrified,  trembled  in  every 
limb,  and  tried  to  rear ;  but  his  strength  was 
as  nothing  when  opposed  to  the  steady  power  of 
his  massive  antagonist. 

Relieved  'from  the  immediate  attentions  of  the 
grizzly,  Tom  did  not  continue  to  run,  but  stood 
still,  and,  forgetting  his  own  peril,  remained  an 
excited  spectator  of  the  struggle  between  the  bear 
and  the  vaquero. 

The  Mexican  in  an  excited  manner  shouted  to 
him  to  shoot.  This  brought  Tom  to  a  sense  of  his 
duty.  A  third  person  had  been  brought  into  danger 
by  an  effort  to  give  him  assistance,  and  he  was 
too  manly  to  leave  him  to  his  fate.  He  raised 
his  rifle,  and,  taking  quick  aim,  fired.  Our  young 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  165 

hero  was  of  course  inexperienced,  and  it  was  only 
by  a  piece  of  good  fortune  that  his  bullet  inflicted 
a  serious  wound,  striking  the  bear  in  the  throat. 
The  blood  began  to  flow  and  the  grizzly,  growl 
ing  fiercely,  slackened  his  hold  on  the  lasso.  The 
vaquero  followed  up  Tom's  shot  by  another,  equally 
effective,  and  the  powerful  animal  dropped  to  the 
ground,  dangerous  still  if  approached,  but  unfitted 
for  pursuit. 

The  vaquero  reined  his  horse  back,  and  his 
dark  face  became  illumined  with  a  smile  of  satis 
faction. 

"  He  will  do  no  more  harm,"  he  said  in  good 
English,  but  with  a  foreign  accent.  "The  danger 
is  over." 

"Is  the  critter  used  up?"  shouted  Onthank, 
cautiously,  from  his  elevated  perch.  "  Is  he  de 
funct?" 

"He  soon  will  be,"  answered  Tom.  "I  guess 
it  will  be  safe  to  come  down." 

Ebenezer  Onthank  needed  no  second  invitation. 
He  "shinned"  down  the  tree  in  a  manner  not 
unlike  the  grizzly,  and  approached  the  spot  where 


166  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OJZ, 

the  huge  foe  was  lying,  the  life-blood  flowing  from 
his  throat. 

"  I'd  like  to  kick  you,  you  big  brute!"  said  Mr. 
Onthank. 

The  bear  slowly  turned  upon  him  his  glazing 
eyes,  and  they  expressed  so  much  ferocity  that 
almost  involuntarily  the  Yankee  drew  back.  The 
bear  partly  raised  himself,  and  tried  to  drag  him 
self  towards  his  adversaries ;  but  the  effort  was 
vain. 

"He  is  one  of  the  largest  I  have  seen,"  said 
the  vaquero.  "  See  how  strong  he  is ! " 

"  It  was  lucky  for  me  that  you  came  up,"  said 
Tom.  "  He  was  almost  upon  me." 

"I  had  about  given  you  up,  Tom,"  said 
Onthank,  "and  I  thought  my  turn  was  coming 
next." 

4 'We  are  much  indebted  to  3^ou,  sir,"  said  Tom, 
gratefully,  to  the  Mexican.  "You  have  saved  my 
life." 

The  vaquero  courteously  expressed  his  satisfac 
tion,  and,  remounting  his  horse,  resumed  his 
journey. 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  167 

"  I  never  want  to  see  another  grizzly,"  said 
Onthank.  "This  one  is  enough  for  me,  darn 
his  ugly  picturM" 

"  I  quite  agree  with  you,  Mr.  Onthank,"  said 
Tom. 


168  THE     YOUNG    MINER; 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

TOM'S    OLD    HOME. 

LEAVING  Tom  for  a  time,  we  will  cross  the 
continent,  and,  a  little  earlier  in  point  of  time, 
look  in  upon  Mark  Nelson  and  his  family  at 
their  humble  home  in  New  Hampshire. 

For  }Tears  Mr.  Nelson  had  been  struggling  to 
provide  a  comfortable  living  for  his  wife  and 
children.  The  struggle  was  not  an  easy  one. 
His  small  farm  was  sterile,  and  yielded  grudg 
ingly  its  annual  crops.  Then  the  mortgage  held 
by  Squire  Hudson  imposed  a  burden  of  interest 
very  hard  to  meet.  Each  half  year  sixty-six 
dollars  must  be  raised  somehow  to  satisfy  the 
squire's  demand.  Though  a  rich  man,  with  ready 
money  in  plenty,  he  never  failed  to  call  for  his 
money  on  the  very  day  it  was  due.  Once  or 
twice  he  had  granted  a  delay  of  a  day  or  two ; 
but  his  manner  was  so  unpleasant  that  the 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  169 

farmer,  except  from  dire  necessity,  was  hardly 
likely  to  ask  a  renewal  of  the  favor. 

The  six  months  immediately  following  Tom's 
departure  from  home  were  not  favorable  to  his 
father.  There  was  a  drought  of  considerable 
duration,  which  made  the  crops  smaller  than 
usual,  and  thus  materially  decreased  the  farmer's 
income.  When  the  semi-annual  interest  became 
due,  with  the  most  energetic  effort  Mark  Nelson 
had  got  together  but  thirty-six  dollars  towards 
it,  leaving  a  deficit  of  thirty  dollars. 

"I  feel  anxious  about  to-morrow,  Mary,"  he 
said,  as  the  little  family  sat  together  the  night 
before  in  the  plain  sitting-room.  "I  have  never 
been  so  much  behindhand  before  with  the  interest." 

"Flow  much  do  you  lack,  Mark?"  asked  Mrs. 
Nelson. 

"  Thirty   dollars." 

"  That  is  a  good  deal  of  money,"  said  his 
wife,  gravely. 

"Yes;  I  don't  know  where  to  raise  it.  If 
Squire  Hudson  were  only  a  little  considerate. 
But  he  isn't,  and,  even  if  he  were,  I  am  afraid 


170  THE     YOUNG    MINER ;    OR, 

there  is  no  prospect  of  my  raising  the  money  at 
present." 

"  You  may  get  some  money  from  Tom  soon," 
suggested  Sarah. 

UI  can't  rely  upon  that.  Tom  will  doubtless 
eend  when  he  is  able,  for  he  understands  my 
circumstances,  and  is  a  thoughtful  boy ;  but  it  is 
going  to  take  time  for  him  to  earn  a  surplus  — 
enough  to  send  on." 

"  He  may  find  a  big  nugget,"  said  Walter, 
the  second  boy,  who  eagerly  read  the  letters  from 
California  which  from  time  to  time  appeared  in 
the  weekly  paper. 

uHe  may,   but  the   chances   are   against  it." 

"I  was  reading  in  last  week's  paper  about  a 
man  finding  a  nugget  worth  over  two  thousand 
dollars." 

"  Such  nuggets  are  as  rare  as  large  prizes  in 
a  lottery,  I  suspect,"  said  Mark  Nelson,  who  had 
a  large  share  of  plain  common-sense. 

Walter  looked  rather  disappointed,  having  made 
up  his  mind  that  Tom  would  certainly  find  a  big 
lump  of  gold,  and  come  home  rich. 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  171 

"Don't  you  think  Tom  will  find  some  gold?" 
be  asked. 

44  Yes,  I  have  no  doubt  he  will  gather  some 
gold-dust.  I  have  no  doubt,  too,  that  he  will 
earn  more  than  he  or  I  can  do  at  home;  but  I 
haven't  much  faith  in  these  extraordinary  pieces 
of  good  luck." 

"  Still,     Tom    may    find     a    nugget,"     persisted 

Walter. 

44  Yes,  he  may,  and  I  shall  be  very  glad  if  he 
does ;  but  we  must  not  build  too  many  air-castles 
on  that  chance." 

44 1  wish  I  could  see  the  dear  boy  again," 
sighed  his  mother,  looking  up  from  the  stocking 
she  was  laboriously  darning. 

44  So  do  I,"  said  Walter.  "  He  would  have  a 
lot  to  tell  us." 

4 'California  seems  so  far  away,"  resumed  Mrs. 
Nelson,  "  and  he  has  no  one  there  to  look  after 
him,  and  mend  his  clothes  —  " 

4 'And  darn  his  stockings,"  said  Walter,  smil 
ing. 

44  If    he    walked    all    the   way   across    the   con 


172  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR. 

tinent,"  said  Sarah,  "  I  don't  believe  he  woulj 
have  larger  holes  in  his  stockings  than  you  have, 
Walter." 

"  Oh,  well,  I  exercise  a  good  deal,"  said  Wal 
ter.  "  Ask  father  if  I  don't." 

"  Walter  will  be  more  successful  as  a  farmer 
than  as  a  scholar,"  said  Mr.  Nelson.  "  He  helps 
me  a  good  deal." 

u  Tom  was  a  good  scholar,"  said  Sarah,  "  and 
he  was  always  ready  to  work  too.  Walter  will 
never  astonish  or  electrify  the  world  by  his  learn 
ing." 

"  I  don't  want  to,"  said  her  brother.  "It 
isn't  in  my  line." 

"  That's  true  enough." 

"  Don't  tease  Walter,"  said  Mrs.  Nelson.  "  He 
helps  your  father  a  good  deal,  and  he  is  not  a 
dunce." 

"Thank  you,  mother,  for  taking  my  part. 
Sarah  is  going  to  be  a  strong-minded  woman, 
I  should  not  wonder  if  she  came  out  as  a  lec 
turer  on  '  Woman's  Rights '  some  time.  I  think 
I  see  her,  with  a  pair  of  iron-bowed  spectacles  on 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  173 

her  nose,  and  her  back  hair  tied  up  in  a  big 
knot,  flinging  her  arms  about,  and  — " 

"That'll  do,  Walter,"  said  Sarah.  "It  is  an 
unusually  powerful  effort  for  you.  I  have  no  de 
sire  to  lecture  on  '  Woman's  Rights,'  though  I 
think  they  ought  to  have  them  all  the  same." 

UI  guess  you'll  get  yours.  You'll  make  your 
husband  stand  round,  if  you  ever  get  one." 

Sarah  laughed  good-naturedty,  and  retorted,  "  I 
Ghall  pity  your  wife,  if  she  has  to  darn  your 
stockings." 

The  next  day  about  dinner-time  Squire  Hud- 
eon  walked  up  to  the  front  door,  and  knocked. 
His  approach  was  witnessed,  not  without  trepi 
dation,  for  he  was  not  an  easy  creditor. 

The  squire  looked  about  him  searchingly  as  he 
entered.  He  suspected  that  the  interest  was  not 
ready,  and  the  farmer's  grave  face  confirmed  his 
suspicions.  That  he  was  glad  of  this  of  course 
Mark  Nelson  did  not  dream,  for  he  was  not  aware 
of  his  creditor's  deep-laid  plans. 

"A  fine  day!"  said  the  squire,  with  suavity. 
"  I  hope  }TOU  are  well,  Mrs.  Nelson." 


174  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OJ?, 

"  Pretty  well,  thank  you,  sir." 

"Have  you  heard  from  Tom  lately?" 

"  Yes ;  he  had  just  reached  California." 

"  Then   of  course   he   could  not  say  anything  of 

his   prospects?" 
"  It  was  too  soon." 
"You    must    miss    him    a    good    deal  —  all    of 

you." 

"  I   am    thinking    of    him    all    the    time,"     said 

Mrs.  Nelson. 

"  To    be    sure,   that    is    natural    in   a    mother. 

But    if    the   boy   does    well,   that  will    repay  you 

hereafter." 

"  If  I  only  felt  sure  he  would  do  well." 

"  Oh,  he  is  young  and  industrious.     He  will  be 

sure  to  make  his   way.      He'll   like   it  too.     Why, 

my    Sinclair    envies     him    the    chance    of    leaving 

home.     He  wanted  to  go  with  him." 

"  Sinclair  would     not     like   to    go  in     the   same 

way   as    Tom,    with    the    prospect    of    having    to 

work  hard  after  he  got   there,"  said  Mark   Nelson. 
u  To   be   sure    not,   neighbor   Nelson.      My   boy 

has    never  been    brought   up    to    work.      My    cir- 


TOM  NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  175 

cumstances  —  ahem !  —  have    not    made   it    neces 
sary." 

41  Sinclair  is  fortunate  in  having  a  rich  father," 
said  the  farmer. 

"  So  I  tell  him,"  said  the  squire,  complacently. 
4 'His  fortune  is  already  made." 

"What  are  you  going  to  do  with  him, 
squire  i  " 

"Oh,  I  shall  make  a  professional  man  of 
him,  —  a  lawyer,  most  likely,"  said  the  rich  man, 
complacently.  "  I  can  give  him  a  suitable  income 
till  he  gets  into  a  paying  practice." 

"  That  will  be  a  good  many  years,"  thought 
Sarah,  "unless  Sinclair  works  harder  than  he 
has  lately  at  school ; "  but  the  shrewd  young  lady 
kept  this  thought  to  herself. 

One  by  one  wife  and  children  left  the  room, 
for  it  was  well  understood  that  the  squire  came 
on  business,  and  would  be  likely  to  desire  a 
private  interview  with  the  farmer.  They  went 
into  the  kitchen,  closing  the  door  behind  them, 
and  awaited  anxiously  the  result  of  the  inter 
view. 


176  THE    TOUXG   HXXEB;  OB, 

"I  do  hope  Squire  Hudson  will  be  considerate," 
said  Mrs.  Nelson,  anxiously. 

" 1  am  afraid  he  won't  be,  mother,"  said  Sarah. 
44  He  is  a  hard  man." 

"Sinclair  puts  on  no  end  of  airs,"  said  Walter. 
44  By  the  way  he  struts  round  you  would  think 
he  owned  the  whole  town.  You  had  better  set 
your  cap  for  him,  Sarah,  for  he  will  be  rich 
some  day." 

44 1  would  rather  be  an  old  maid  than  marry 
him,"  said  Sarah,  decidedly. 

"Very  likely  your  wish  will  be  gratified,"  said 
her  brother. 

Mrs.  Nelson  did  not  smile  at  this  sally,  for  her 
mind  was  too  fall  of  anxiety. 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  177 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

A   MODERN    SHYLOCK. 

"  1  BELIEVE  your  interest  falls  due  to-day,  Mr. 
Nelson,"  said  the  squire,  when  he  found  himself 
alone  with  his  debtor. 

u  Yes,"  answered  the  farmer,  slowly.  It  was  not 
very  likely  to  slip  his  mind. 

"  I  suppose  you  have  the  money  ready,"  con 
tinued  the  squire,  who  supposed  no  such  thing. 

"  I  have  a  part  of  it  ready,"  said  Mark  Nel 
son,  with  an  effort. 

"  A  part,"  repeated  his   creditor,  with   a  frown. 

%c  Yes ;  I  can  give  you  thirty-six  dollars 
to-day." 

"  Only  thirty-six  dollars !  The  amount  due  is 
sixty-six." 

"  I  know  it,  Squire  Hudson  ;  but  this  has  been 
a  bad  year  for  the  farmers,  as  you  probably 
know.  Owing  to  the  drought,  my  crops  fell  off 
at  least  one  quarter." 


178  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    0U, 

"  I   can't  help  that,"   said  the   squire,   coldly. 

"If  you  will  be  a  little  patient,"  said  Mr 
Nelson,  uneasily. 

"  Neighbor  Nelson,"  said  his  creditor,  interrupt 
ing  him,  "  I  wish  to  ask  you  one  question. 
When  I  lent  you  money  on  mortgage  was  there 
a  stipulation  that  if  there  was  a  drought  I  was 
to  wait  for  my  just  interest?" 

"  No,    Squire   Hudson." 

"To  be  sure  not;  I  would  not  of  course  lend 
you  money  on  any  such  terms.  It  was  under 
stood  that  my  interest  was  to  be  paid  seini- 
annually,  —  was  it  not  so?" 

"Yes,   but  —  " 

"  Wait  a  moment.  You  must  certainly  agree 
that  I  am  entitled  to  prompt  payment.  A  bargain 
is  a  bargain." 

"I  don't  dispute  it,  Squire  Hudson,  and  I  have 
tried  to  be  ready  for  you;  but  in  spite  of  all  my 
efforts  I  am  thirty  dollars  short." 

"  Do  you  expect  me  to  be  content  with  this 
explanation  ?  " 

"I  think    you   are  rather    hard    on  me,   squire. 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  179 

It  isn't  as  if  I  had  the  money  and  objected  to 
pay.  I  am  a  poor  man,  but  no  one  ever  lost  a 
dollar  by  me ;  and  I  don't  mean  that  any  one 
shall,  while  I  have  my  life  and  strength." 

"  That's  all  very  well,  but  it  won't  make  up 
the  thirty  dollars  in  which  you  are  delinquent." 

44  What  would  you  have  me  do?  I  cannot  make 
money." 

"  I  wouldn't  give  much  for  an  investment  when 
the  interest  is  delayed.  It  is  no  longer  worth 
its  face.  If  any  of  my  railroad  bonds  defer  their 
usual  interest  they  at  once  drop  in  value." 

"  I  know  very  little  of  railroad  bonds,  never 
having  any  money  to  invest  in  them ;  but  I  think 
my  farm  will  be  full  security  for  all  the  money 
I  owe  you." 

"Suppose  I  should  foreclose — you  would  con 
sider  it  an  unkind  thing  and  a  great  hardship, 
wouldn't  you  ?  " 

"It  would  take  away  my  means  of  supporting 
my  family.  I  don't  think  you  would  go  to 
extremes,  for  the  sake  of  thirty  dollars." 

u  It  isn't   the   amount  of  money,   neighbor  Nel- 


180  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

son,  that  is  to  be  considered.  It  is  the  principle 
that  is  involved." 

T1  .s  is  a  very  common  pretext  with  men  who 
have  made  up  their  minds  to  do  a  mean  thing. 
Gen'  rally  speaking  it  is  false,  and  the  money  is 
the  first  consideration. 

"  Will  you  give  me  two  months  to  pay  the 
balance  of  interest?"  asked  Mark  Nelson. 

"  What  better  prospect  have  you  of  being  able 
to  pay  me  then?" 

"As  soon  as  Tom  has  any  money  to  send,  he 
will  remit  to  me.  I  think  it  probable  that  I  shall 
hear  from  him  in  the  course  of  two  months." 

"If  that  is  your  reliance,"  said  the  squire, 
shrugging  his  shoulders,  "  I  am  afraid  you  are 
leaning  upon  a  broken  reed.  I  know  boys  pretty 
well,  and  I  fancy  Tom  will  find  a  use  for  all 
the  money  he  earns." 

"  You  don't  know  him,  Squire  Hudson.  He  is 
a  very  conscientious  boy,  and  understands  very 
well  the  sacrifice  I  made  in  raising  money  to 
send  him  to  California.  He  is  not  very  likely 
to  forget  that." 


TOM    NELSON    IN   CALIFORNIA.  181 

"  It  seems  to  me  that  the  sacrifice  was  mine," 
said  the  squire,  with  a  half  sneer.  "If  I  remem 
ber  rightly,  I  advanced  the  money  which  he  took 
away  with  him." 

Mark  Nelson  flushed,  and  he  answered  warmly, 
"You  did  advance  the  money,  Squire  Hudson, 
but  I  gave  you  security  for  it." 

"And  the  very  first  interest  that  has  come 
due  you  are  not  prepared  to  meet.  You  can't 
blame  me  for  feeling  a  little  doubt  as  to  the 
wisdom  of  my  advance." 

"  Are  you  very  much  in  need  of  the  thirty 
dollars?"  asked  Mr.  Nelson,  nettled  at  the  squire's 
tone. 

"What   do  you   mean,    sir?" 

"Is  it  subjecting  you  to  any  great  incon 
venience  to  wait  a  couple  of  months  for  it?  That 
is  what  I  mean." 

"  My  circumstances  are  not  such,"  returned  the 
squire,  haughtily,  "as  to  make  me  feel  even  the 
loss  of  thirty  dollars." 

"I  wish  I  could  say  the  same,  but  I  cannot. 
Since,  then,  it  will  occasion  you  no  inconvenience, 


182  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    O/Z, 

I   ask  you   as   a   favor  that  you  will   let  the   bal 
ance  rest   for  two   months." 

Squire  Hudson  saw  that  he  was  cornered ;  but 
none  the  less  was  he  disposed  to  yield  the  point. 
He  even  felt  provoked  with  the  farmer  for  having 
forced  from  him  an  acknowledgment  that  he  did 
not  need  the  money  he  so  persistently  demanded. 

"  I  told  }~ou  before,"  he  said,  u  that  it  was 
not  the  amount  of  money,  but  the  principle,  that 
I  care  for.  You  cannot  have  forgotten  this." 

"  I  don't  see  how  any  principle  is  involved, 
Squire  Hudson." 

"  You  look  at  the  matter  solely  from  a  debtor's 
point  of  view.  If  you  held  the  mortgage,  instead 
of  myself,  you  would  change  your  view  very 
quickly." 

"I  don't  think  I  should,"  said  the  farmer, 
slowly.  "  I  would  be  considerate  to  a  poor  neigh 
bor,  even  if  it  did  inconvenience  me  a  little." 

"The  poor  neighbor  should  not  have  borrowed 
money  on  which  he  was  unable  to  pay  interest," 
said  Squire  Hudson,  severely. 

"  How   could   I  anticipate   the   drought   that   has 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  183 

diminished  my  crops?"  said  Mark  Nelson,  with 
spirit. 

"That  is  neither  here  nor  there.  You  knew 
that  the  interest  must  be  paid,  drought  or  no 
drought,  crop  or  no  crop." 

"  I  cannot  argue  with  you  further,  since  you  re 
fuse  to  consider  circumstances  over  which  I  have 
had  no  control.  You  refuse  to  grant  me  any  de 
lay?" 

"I   do." 

"Since  I  have  not  the  money  to  pay  you,  will 
you  tell  me  what  you  require?" 

"How   many   cows   do   you   keep?" 

"  Three." 

"  You  can  give  me  one  of  these,  and  I  will 
consider  it  an  equivalent  for  the  thirty  dollars." 

"Do  3Tou  require  this?"  asked  the  farmer, 
uneasily. 

"  Yes ;  unless  you  have  some  other  satisfactory 
arrangement  to  propose." 

"I  am  afraid  I  have  nothing  else  which  you 
would  regard  as  satisfactory.  The  loss  of  a  cow 
will  diminish  my  income.  Instead  of  three,  I 


1 84  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

ought  to  have  four  or  five.  I  shouldn't  like  to 
be  reduced  to  two." 

44  Very  likety  not ;  but  an  honest  man  is  willing 
to  make  a  sacrifice  in  order  to  meet  his  just 
liabilities.  Besides,  you  expect  to  have  the  money, 
}'ou  sa}T,  in  a  couple  of  months.  When  it  has 
come,  you  may  have  your  cow  back,  on  paying 
two  months'  interest  on  the  deferred  payment. 
That  is  only  fair." 

44  Say  no  more,  Squire  Hudson,"  said  the  farmer. 
"  I  must,  of  course,  consent  to  this  arrangement 
since  you"  insist  upon  it.  How  soon  do  you  wish 
for  the  cow?" 

44  You  had  better  let  your  son  Walter  drive  it 
over  this  afternoon." 

44  He  is  losing  no  time,"  thought  Mark  Nelson, 
bitterly.  44  He  does  not  even  appear  to  be  willing 
that  I  should  have  the  benefit  of  this  night's  milk 
ing." 

4 'You  may  send  me  TV  Mteface,"  continued  Squire 
Hudson,  who  knew  that  this  was  the  most  valu 
able  of  the  three  cows. 

44  That  is   my   best  cow,'    protested    the   farmer 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  185 

"  That  makes  little  difference,  as  you  expect 
to  redeem  it  in  two  months." 

Mark  Nelson  was  silent.  He  felt  indignant  with 
Squire  Hudson  for  his  cruel  exaction ;  but  he  felt 
that  he  was  in  his  power,  and  that  he  must  submit 
to  his  exactions. 

"You  will  attend  to  this  matter?"  asked  the 
squire,  as  he  rose  and  prepared  to  go. 

44  Yes,"   answered   the   farmer,    coldly. 

When  his  creditor  was  gone  he  went  into  the 
kitchen  and  acquainted  the  family  with  what  had 
passed.  Great  were  the  grief  and  indignation  of 
the  children,  and  Walter  expressed  a  desire  that 
Squire  Hudson  might  lose  all  his  property  as  a 
fitting  reward  for  his  meanness. 

44  Heaven  help  me  if  I  can't  meet  the  next 
interest ! "  said  Mark  Nelson,  later  in  the  day,  to 
his  wife. 

"  Don't  be  too  much  troubled  about  the  future, 
Mark,"  said  his  wife,  who  was  of  a  more  hopeful 
temperament  than  her  husband ;  44 1  am  sure  that 
you  will  get  some  help  from  Tom  before  six 
months  are  over." 


186  THE     TOUNG    MINER;    Otf, 

"  I  hope  so,"  answered  her  husband ;  but  for 
the  rest  of  the  day  he  was  very  grave. 

Walter  drove  over  Whiteface,  at  his  father's 
request ;  but  he  came  near  crying,  stout  boy  as 
he  was,  at  the  loss  of  the  faithful  animal  which 
his  father  had  reared  from  a  calf. 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  187 


CHAPTER    XX. 

A.T   SACRAMENTO. 

AFTER  his  escape  from  the  grizzly  Tom  had 
BO  further  adventures  of  an  exciting  character. 
One  afternoon  he  and  his  companions  arrived  at 
Sacramento.  It  was  but  a  small  settlement,  but 
was  more  town-like  than  any  place  they  had  yet 
seen  in  California.  They  drove  to  a  two-story 
frame  building,  which  was  the  chief  hotel  in  the 
town.  Taking  the  precaution  to  inquire  the  price 
of  board  and  lodging,  they  were  dismayed  by  the 
extravagance  of  the  charges.  Tom  saw  that  his 
reserve  fund  of  twenty  dollars  would  scarcely 
last  him  forty-eight  hours. 

u  I  can't  stay  here,  Mr.  Ferguson,"  he  said. 
"  I  will  take  my  chances  and  camp  out,  if  nec 
essary." 

"I  agree  with  you,  lad;  I'm  not  inclined  to 
waste  my  substance  on  luxurious  living." 


188  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

"  There  won't  be  much  luxurious  living,  I 
guess,"  said  Ebenezer  Onthank,  who,  with  Yankee 
curiosity,  had  already  visited  the  kitchen  and  ob 
tained  some  idea  of  the  fare  to  be  expected.  "  1 
kin  get  better  board  at  Green  Mountain  Mills  for 
three  dollars  a  week,  and  folks  are  darned  glad 
to  accommodate  you  for  that  price.  These  chaps 
seem  to  think  and  act  as  if  we  were  made  of 
money." 

44  I  wish  some  of  your  Green  Mountain  Mills 
boarding-houses  were  here,"  said  Tom.  "  I  could 
save  plenty  of  money  then." 

44  Well,  gentlemen,  do  you  want  to  stay  here?" 
inquired  the  landlord. 

44  We'd  like  to,  squire,  but  not  bein'  million- 
naires  I  guess  we'll  have  to  put  it  off  till  times 
are  better." 

44  Just  as  you  say,"  said  the  landlord,  indiffer 
ently.  44  There's  others  waiting  for  the  only  room 
I  have  empt3r."  Then,  noticing  for  the  first  time 
the  express  wagon  which  Tom  had  left  outside, 
he  asked,  in  a  tone  of  interest,  44Who  owns  that 
team?" 


TOM    NELSON    IN   CALIFORNIA.  189 

"It  belongs  to  this  boy  and  myself,"  answered 
Ferguson. 

"Where   did   it  come   from?" 

"The   States." 

"You   don't   want  to   sell,   do  you?" 

Tom  was  about  to  reply  in  the  affirmative, 
but  the  Scot,  more  shrewd,  answered  indifferently, 
"  We  may  sell  it  when  we  get  to  San  Fran 
cisco." 

"  I  need  just  such  a  team  as  that,"  said  the 
landlord,  eagerly.  "  I'll  give  you  a  good  price 
for  it.  You  can  go  down  the  river  to  Frisco." 

"  I  suppose  we  might,"  said  Ferguson,  slowly, 
14  if  it  was  worth  our  while." 

"  What'll  you  take,  cash  down?"  inquired  the 
landlord,  earnestly. 

"Nay,  my  friend,  I  prefer  to  hear  your  views 
as  to  the  price." 

"I  will  give  you  eight  hundred  dollars  for  the 
wagon." 

This  was  certainly  an  excellent  profit,  for  but 
three  hundred  had  been  paid  for  horse  and  wagon. 
Tom's  heart  beat  fast  with  excitement,  for  he 


190  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OJZ, 

remembered  that  one-third  of  the  money  would 
come  to  him.  If  it  had  depended  upon  him  he 
would  have  clinched  the  bargain  at  once,  but  he 
wisely  left  the  matter  in  the  hands  of  his  com 
panion  and  partner. 

"That  seems  a  fair  offer,"  said  Ferguson;  "but 
I  think  we  may  as  well  wait  till  we  reach  San 
Francisco.  Besides,  we  want  to  sell  the  horse, 
too." 

"  I  will  give  you  a  thousand  dollars  for  the 
two,"  said  the  landlord. 

A  man  with  his  pantaloons  tucked  in  his  boots, 
a  coarse  woollen  shirt,  and  a  wide-brimmed  som 
brero,  which  overshadowed  a  face  bearing  a  beard 
of  a  week's  growth,  was  leaning  against  the  door 
post. 

"  Landlord,  said  he,  "I  see  your  price,  and  I'll 
go  two  hundred  better." 

Tom  stared  at  the  speaker  in  surprise.  He 
looked  like  a  man  who  would  have  found  it  hard 
to  raise  twelve  dollars,  yet  he  had  made  an  offer 
of  twelve  hundred.  Our  hero  did  not  learn  till  after 
wards  that  the  man  had  ' '  struck  it  rich "  at  the 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA*  191 

mines,  sold  out  his  claim  for  ten  thousand  dollars, 
and  for  the  time  being  was  the  lucky  possessor 
of  a  large  bank  account. 

"Now,  Tom  Scott,"  expostulated  the  landlord, 
"  this  aint  fair.  I  want  the  wagon  more'n  you 
do,  and  you're  a-raisin*  the  price  on  me." 

"  How  do  you  know  that?"  drawled  Scott. 
41  I've  got  a  pile,  and  I  mean  to  take  it  easy 
while  it  lasts.  I'm  going  back  to  the  mines  like 
a  gentleman,  with  my  own  team,  you  bet,  if 
I've  got  money  enough  to  buy  one." 

The  landlord  was  satisfied  that,  if  he  wanted 
the  team,  he  must  outbid  his  competitor,  and 
advanced  his  offer  to  thirteen  hundred  .dollars. 
But  Tom  Scott  was  not  terrified.  His  money  had 
come  easily,  and  he  would  not  let  two  or  three 
hundred  dollars  stand  in  the  way  of  his  wishes. 

"I'll  go  fifteen,"   he   drawled. 

The  landlord  shrugged  his  shoulders,  and  said, 
m  a  disappointed  tone,  "  You'll  have  to  take 
it,  Scott.  You've  gone  ahead  of  my  pile." 

"Well,  stranger,  is  it  a  bargain?"  asked  Scott. 

The   Scotchman,  though   inwardly   elated   as  well 


192  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    Otf, 

as  astonished  at  the  extraordinary  offer  he  had 
received,  answered  quietty,  "  If  my  partner  agrees." 

44  I  guess  we'd  better  sell,"  said  Tom,  trying 
not  to  betray  his  inward  satisfaction. 

44  All  right,"  said  Scott,  appearing  to  be  well 
pleased.  "  You  can  have  your  money  when  you 
want  it.  If  you  are  going  to  Frisco,  I'll  give 
you  an  order  on  my  banker  there." 

44  Tom  Scott's  a  square  man,  and  his  order  will 
fetch  the  money,"  said  the  landlord,  observing 
Ferguson's  prudent  hesitation. 

4 'That  is   satisfactory,"  replied   Ferguson. 

In  five  minutes  more  the  business  was  con 
cluded,  and  Ferguson  and  Tom,  longing  to  con 
gratulate  each  other  on  their  good  fortune,  walked 
off  together. 

44  We're  in  luck,  Mr.  Ferguson,"  said  Tom. 
44 1  don't  know  whether  I  stand  on  my  head  or 
my  heels.  I  never  expected  such  a  price." 

44  Twelve  hundred  dollars  is  a  great  profit,"  said 
Ferguson.  44I  almost  dout  whether  we  are  justi 
fied  in  asking  such  an  extortionate  price  of  the 
poor  man." 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  193 

u  He  is  pleased  with  his  bargain,  and  I  don't 
think  we  need  to  trouble  ourselves  about  that," 
answered  Tom.  "  Besides,  you  know  we  can't 
compare  prices  with  those  at  home." 

"No  dout  there  is  reason  in  what  you  say, 
my  lad ;  but  it's  not  easy  at  first  to  make  allow 
ance  for  the  difference." 

"That's  so,  Mr.  Ferguson.  When  shall  we  go 
to  San  Francisco?" 

"  We  will  go  to-morrow,  if  we  can.  I  sup 
pose  you  will  wish  to  send  some  money  to  your 
father." 

"Yes,  I  am  in  a  hurry  to  send  to  him,  for  I 
am  sure  he  needs  it  already.  I  can  hardly  realize 
that  I  am  worth  five  hundred  dollars." 

"Five  hundred?" 

"  Yes,   I   had   a   third   share   in   the   team." 

"That  isn't    my   way   of  looking   at  it,   Tom." 

"Is  it  possible  Mr.  Ferguson  would  cheat  me 
out  of  my  fair  share?"  thought  Tom,  but  he  only 
harbored  the  suspicion  for  an  instant.  He  h&d 
seen  too  much  of  his  friend  to  believe  such  a 
thing,  and  he  quietly  waited  for  an  explanation. 


194  THE     TOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

"I'll  tell  you  how  I  propose  that  we  divide  it, 
Tom.  First  we'll  take  out  the  money  each  of  us 
put  in,  one  hundred  for  you  and  two  hundred 
for  me,  and  then  we'll  divide  the  profit  equally." 

"  But,"  protested  Tom,  "  you  are  entitled  to 
two-thirds." 

"  Then  I  won't  take  it,"  said  Ferguson,  decid 
edly.  UI  only  want  half  of  the  profit.  That  will 
give  me  eight  hundred  dollars,  and  that  ought  to 
satisfy  me." 

"And  I  shall  have  seven  hundred,"  said  Tom, 
his  eyes  sparkling. 

"  Precisely." 

"  How  kind  you  are,  Mr.  Ferguson ! "  exclaimed 
Tom,  eagerly  seizing  the  Scotchman's  hand. 

"  No,  my  lad ;  I  am  only  just.  I  am  glad  to 
help  a  boy  who  is  working  for  his  father  and 
family." 

"I  shouldn't  deserve  to  succeed  if  I  didn't," 
said  Tom,  earnestly. 

"Always  bear  that  in  mind,  my  lad,  and  God 
will  smile  on  your  efforts,  and  raise  you  up 
friends." 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  195 

In  spite  of  the  high  price,  Tom  and  his  part 
ner  felt  justified  now  in  stopping  over  night  at  the 
hotel  where  they  had  met  with  such  a  piece  of 
good  luck,  and  tlie  next  day  started  down  the 
river  for  San  Francisco. 


196  THE     YOUNG    MINES;    0/Z, 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

TOM    BUYS   A    BUSINESS. 

IT  was  an  interesting  .  moment  for  our  two 
friends  when  they  landed  in  San  Francisco.  The 
future  Western  metropolis  was  only  a  town  of 
scattered  wooden  and  adobe  houses,  with  irreg 
ular  streets  and  a  general  lack  of  uniformity  in 
its  buildings ;  but  ever}Tbody  seemed  on  the 
alert.  The  number  of  drones  was  wonderfully 
small ;  even  the  constitutionally  lazy  could  not 
resist  the  golden  incentives  to  labor.  Money 
was  looked  upon  with  very  different  eyes  there 
and  at  the  East.  No  one  took  the  trouble  to 
dispute  prices ;  and  a  man  who  landed  with  an 
article  rare  or  desirable  could  often  obtain  twenty 
times  its  value.  Within  ten  minutes  of  his  ar 
rival  Tom  witnessed  a  case  of  this  kind. 

Just   as  he  was   entering   Montgomery  street  he 
noticed   a  man  —  evidently   a   new-comer  —  with   a 


TOM   NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  197 

fine  bunch  of  pineapples  in  his  hand.  He  had 
just  arrived  in  the  steamer  Columbus,  then  an 
chored  out  in  the  stream. 

"  I  shouldn't  mind  having  one  of  those  pine 
apples,"  said  Tom  to  Ferguson. 

"  Doutless  they  are  high-priced,  being  a  rarity," 
said  the  Scotchman. 

Just  then  a  passer-b}7,  attracted  like  Tom,  and 
feeling  a  similar  longing,  stepped  up  to  the  new 
comer. 

"Are  those  pineapples  for  sale?"  he  asked. 

"  Yes,  if  you'll  pay  enough,"  was  the  half- 
jocular  reply. 

' '  Name  your  price." 

"  Ten  dollars." 

"  Here  is  }Tour  money ; "  and  he  put  a  gold 
piece  into  the  hand  of  the  astounded  passenger, 
which  represented  ten  times  the  sum  he  had  paid 
for  the  fruit  at  San  Bias. 

"  That's  a  pretty  steep  price,"  said  Tom,  "  for 
six  pineapples." 

"It  is  very  wasteful  to  spend  such  a  sight  of 
money  to  pamper  the  appetite,"  said  the  canny 


198  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

Scot.  "  Truly,  a  fool  and  his  money  are  soon 
parted." 

He  was  destined  to  be  still  more  surprised. 
The  purchaser  within  five  minutes  transferred  half 
his  purchase  to  another  for  fifteen  dollars. 

"  Gold   seems   to  be   plenty  here,"  said  Tom. 

"  I  hope  all  provisions  are  not  as  high,"  said 
Ferguson,  "or  we  shall  soon  have  a  chance  to 
spend  all  we  have." 

"Where   shall  we  go  first?"   asked   Tom. 

"  We  had  better  go  to  a  public  house,  and 
secure  a  lodging,"  said  Ferguson. 

"I  wish  I  knew  some  one  here  to   direct  me." 

Scarcely  had  Tom  uttered  these  words  than  he 
cried  out  in  surprise,  "Why,  there's  John  Miles!" 

They  were  passing  a  little,  unpainted,  wooden 
building,  of  one  and  a  half  stories,  used  as  a 
grocery.  A  German  name  was  on  the  sign ;  but 
behind  the  rough  counter  stood  the  familiar  form 
of  John  Miles. 

Tom  dashed  into  the  store,  followed  by  his  more 
dignified  companion. 

"How  are  you,   John?"  he  exclaimed. 


TOM    NELSON    IN   CALIFORNIA.  199 

"Why,  if  it  isn't  Tom,"  returned  Miles,  his 
face  showing  the  joy  he  felt.  "And  here's  Mr. 
Ferguson,  too." 

Then  there  ensued  a  hearty  shaking  of  hands, 
followed  by  the  question,  "  When  did  you  get 
here?" 

"  About  twenty  minutes   ago." 

"  And  you  came  straight  to  me.     That's  good." 

"  So  it  is ;  but  it's  an  accident.  We  had  no 
idea  where  you  were.  So  you  are  a  grocer,  John. 
Is  the  place  yours?" 

"If  it  is,  then  I've  changed  my  name,"  said 
Miles,  pointing  to  the  sign  bearing  the  name :  — 

JOHN    SCHINKELWITZ. 

"  The  first  name's  right,  at  any  rate,"  said  Tom, 
laughing.  "  I  suppose  you  are  the  clerk,  then." 

"Yes." 

"How  long  have  you  been  here?" 

"  Four  weeks." 

"Is  it  a  good  business?" 

"  Very  good.  My  Dutch  friend  pays  me  five 
dollars  a  day,  and  I  sleep  here." 


200  THE     YOUNQ    MINER;    OR, 

"Among  the   groceries?" 

"  Yes ;  it  saves  me  the  expense  of  a  bed  out 
side,  and  that  is  a  good  deal.  I  haven't  saved 
quite  enough  to  pay  you  yet,  Tom,  but  I  can 
soon." 

"  No  hurry,  John.  I  have  been  lucky  since  I 
saw  you." 

"I  am  glad  to  hear  it,  Tom.  Did  the  claim 
prove  more  productive?" 

"  No ;  but  I  have  been  speculating.  Guess  how 
much  money  I  have  with  me." 

"A  hundred   and  fifty  dollars." 

"  More." 

"Two  hundred." 

"More  yet." 

"Not  three  hundred,   Tom?" 

"  I  won't  make  you  guess  any  more.  I  have 
seven  hundred  dollars.  No  wonder  you  look 
surprised.  I'll  tell  you  how  I  made  it ; "  and 
Tom  repeated  the  story  of  his  purchase  and  its 
profitable  sale. 

"  I  am  not  so  much  surprised  now,"  said  Miles, 
*'  for  in  this  country  a  man  will  have  what  he 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  201 

takes  a  fancy  to,  no  matter  what  it  costs.  I  am 
glad  the  good  luck  came  to  you  and  Mr.  Fer 
guson.  I  shouldn't  mind  having  that  amount  of 
money  myself." 

"What  would  you   do   with   it?" 

"  I  would  buy  out  my  emplo3Ter,  and  then  I 
could  make  money  fast." 

"  Does  he   want   to   sell?" 

"Yes,   he   wants   to   go  to  the   mines." 

"Would   he   sell   for   such    a   small   sum?" 

"Yes;  there  isn't  much  of  a  stock,  but  we  are 
constantly  replenishing.  I  tell  you  what,  Tom, 
you  buy  him  out,  and  I'll  manage  the  business." 

"Are   you   in   earnest,   John?" 

"Certainly   I   am." 

"But  I  want  to  send  some  money  home/' 
objected  Tom. 

"How   much?" 

"  A   hundred    dollars    at   least." 

'•  I'll  lend  you  the  hundred,  my  lad,"  said  Fer 
guson,  "  and  fifty  more,  and  you  can  take  your 
own  money  and  buy  the  business.  I  don't  favor 
acting  hastily,  in  general,  but  I  have  faith  in 


202  THE     TOT7NG    MINER;    OR, 

our  friend  here,  and  I  am  led  to  believe  that 
the  enterprise  will  be  a  profitable  one." 

"  You'll  be  my  partner,  Tom,  and  I'll  give  you 
a  third  of  the  profits  without  your  doing  a  thing. 
If  you  work  with  me,  you  shall  have  as  much  more 
as  will  be  satisfactory." 

"  I  would  rather  go  back  to  the  mines,  John, 
and  leave  you  to  manage  this  business  by  your 
self.  A  quarter  of  the  profits  will  satisfy  me." 

"No,  it  shall  be  a  third.  As  you  furnish  the 
capital,  that  is  only  fair." 

"  We  may  be  counting  our  chickens  too  soon. 
Perhaps  your  Dutch  friend,  whose  name  I  can't 
pronounce,  won't  sell." 

"  Here  he   is  to   speak  for  himself." 

A  short  German,  with  a  ponderous  frame,  and 
a  broad,  good-humored  face,  here  entered  the 
grocery,  panting  with  the  exertion  of  walking,  and 
looked  inquiringly  at  Tom  and  the  Scotchman. 

"Herr  Schinkelwitz,  this  is  my  friend,  Tom 
Nelson,"  said  Miles. 

"  Glad  to  see  you,  mine  vriend,"  said  the  Ger 
man,  addressing  Ferguson. 


TOM    NELSON    IN   CALIFORNIA.  203 

uNo,  that  is  Mr.  Ferguson,"  said  Miles,  smiling. 
"  I  should  have  introduced  him  first." 

"Wie  gehts,  Herr  Ferguson?"  said  the  grocer. 
"  You  have  one  strange  name." 

"Your  name  seems  strange  to  me,"  said  the 
Scotchman. 

"  Oh,  no;  Schinkelwitz  is  a  very  common  name. 
Most  peoples  admire  my  name." 

Tom  was  considerably  amused,  but  Herr  Schin 
kelwitz  did  not  observe  the  smile  which  he  could 
not  repress. 

"I  have  told  my  friends  you  would  like  to 
sell  out  the  business,"  said  Miles. 

"Oh,  ja,  it  is  a  good  business,  but  my  health 
is  not  good.  I  think  it  will  be  much  better  at 
the  mines.  You  will  do  well  to  buy  it  yourself." 

"I   would  if  I   had   money   enough." 

"  Ja,  I  must  have  the  money,  for  I  shall  need  it." 

"My  friend  here  has  money,  and  may  buy  of 
you,"  said  Miles,  indicating  Tom. 

"What,   the  boy?" 

"Yes." 

"Where   did  he   get   so  much  money?" 


204  THE     TOUNQ    MINER;    O/Z, 

"At  the   mines." 

"  Oh,  ja,  that  is  a  good  place  to  get  gold 
Well,  my  young  vriend,  I  will  sell  cheap." 

It  will  not  be  necessary  to  enter  into  a  detailed 
account  of  the  negotiation.  It  is  enough  to  say 
that  for  the  sum  of  seven  hundred  dollars  Herr 
Schinkelwitz  made  over  the  business  to  Herr  Tom, 
as  he  called  him,  and  our  hero  found  himself 
penniless,  but  the  owner  of  a  grocery.  In  half 
an  hour  it  was  all  completed. 

"  Now,  Tom,  you  are  my  boss,"  said  Miles. 
"Shall  I  put  your  name  outside?" 

"No,  John,  put  your  own.  I  am  only  a  silent 
partner,  you  know." 

UI  congratulate  you,  Tom,"  said  Ferguson. 
"Here  are  two  hundred  dollars,  for  which  you 
can  give  me  your  note." 

"Two   hundred?" 

"  Yes ;  you  will  need  some  yourself,  besides 
what  you  send  to  your  father." 

"Suppose   I   can't  pay  you   back?" 

"Then  I  will  levy  on  the  grocery,  my  lad," 
said  Ferguson. 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  205 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

A   GAMBLING-HOUSE. 

HAVING  completed  this  important  business  arrange 
ment,  the  two  friends  went  out  to  explore  the  town. 
The  limits  were  narrow  compared  with  those  of 
the  flourishing  city  of  the  present  day.  Where 
the  Palace  and  Grand  hotels  now  stand  was  a 
sand-hill,  and  the  bay  encroached  upon  the  busi 
ness  part  of  the  city  far  more  than  now. 

Scarcely  a  stone's  throw  from  the  grocery,  on 
Montgomery  street,  between  California  and  Sacra 
mento,  was  the  office  of  Adams'  Express,  which 
advertised  to  forward  gold-dust  and  packages  by 
every  steamer. 

"  I  will  go  in  here,  Mr.  Ferguson,"  said  Tom. 
"  I  shall  not  feel  comfortable  till  I  have  started 
this  money  homeward.  I  am  sure  it  will  be 
wanted." 


206  THE     YOUNG    MINER;   OX* 

"Right,  my  lad.  We  will  attend  to  it,  by  all 
means." 

They  entered  the  building,  —  a  very  humble 
one  it  would  now  be  considered,  —  but  they  found 
other  customers  before  them,  and  had  to  wait  for 
their  turn. 

4 'What  can  I  do  for  you?"  asked  the  clerk, 
in  a  quick,  business-like  tone. 

"  I  want  to  send  home  a  hundred  dollars,"  said 
Tom. 

"  Give   me  the   address." 

This  was  done,  the  money  paid  over,  and  a 
receipt  returned  in  two  minutes. 

"How  long  before  my  father  will  receive  the 
money?"  asked  Tom. 

"The  steamer  starts  in  three  clays.  About  a 
month  will  be  needed." 

Then  Tom  moved  aside,  and  the  next  man  took 
his  place. 

"  I  am  glad  that  is  attended  to,"  said  Tom, 
relieved.  "Now,  Mr.  Ferguson,  I  will  go  where- 
ever  you  wish." 

"  We  had    better   secure    a    lodging,"   said    the 


TOM   NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  207 

Scotchman.  "When  we  are  sure  of  a  bed  we 
can  walk  about  at  our  leisure." 

Lodgings  were  to  be  had,  but  they  were  gen 
erally  very  dear.  The  first  room  looked  at  was 
five  dollars  per  day,  without  board,  —  a  price  our 
friends  were  unwilling  to  pay.  Finally  they  found 
a  decent,  though  small  room,  with  rather  a  nar 
row  bed,  which  could  be  had  for  three  fifths  of 
that  sum,  and  they  engaged  it. 

"  We  will  have  to  go  back  to  the  mines  soon," 
said  Tom.  "  San  Francisco  is  too  expensive  for 
us  to  live  in." 

"You  can  afford  it  better  than  I,  Tom,"  said 
his  friend. 

"Why?" 

"  Because  you  have  a  business  that  brings  you 
in  an  income." 

"  Oh,  I  forgot  that,"  said  our  hero,  smiling. 
"  Things  happen  so  fast  here  that  I  haven't  got 
used  to  my  new  position.  Do  you  think  I  in 
vested  my  money  wisety,  Mr.  Ferguson?" 

"  Yes,  my  lad,  since  your  agent  is  a  trust 
worthy,  honest  man." 


208  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

"I  am     sure  I   can   trust  John  Miles." 

"  If  I  were  not  confident  of  it,  also,  I  would 
not  have  encouraged  you  to  take  so  important 
a  step." 

"I  think  I  won't  write  to  father  about  it," 
said  Tom,  after  a  pause.  "  He  might  think  I 
had  acted  foolishly,  and  become  anxious.  If  I 
succeed,  then  I  shall  be  glad  to  surprise  him. 
I  think  I  shall  make  money ;  but  I  don't  want 
to  count  on  it  too  much.  I  shall  be  ready  to 
go  back  with  you  to  the  mines  whenever  you  say 
the  word." 

As  they  sauntered  about,  gazing  curiously  at  the 
motley  sights  around  them,  they  heard  strains 
of  music.  It  appeared  to  proceed  from  a  large 
wooden  building,  with  a  jutting  roof,  under  which, 
on  benches,  lounged  a  number  of  persons,  some  of 
them  Mexicans,  in  their  native  costumes,  smoking 
cigarettes.  A  large  American  flag  was  displayed 
over  the  door,  and  a  crowd  was  constantly  passing 
in  and  out. 

"Let   us   go  in,"   said  Tom. 

His     companion      making     no     objection,     they 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  209 

entered.  The  first  sight  of  the  interior  made 
clear  the  character  of  the  place.  There  were 
numerous  tables,  spread  with  games,  —  faro,  monte, 
and  roulette,  —  each  surrounded  03-  an  absorbed  and 
interested  group.  "•  Easy  come,  easy  go,"  was  the 
rule  with  the  early  California  pioneers,  and  the 
gaming-table  enlisted  in  its  service  many  men 
who  would  not  have  dreamed  at  home  that  they 
could  ever  be  brought  to  tolerate  such  an  instru 
ment  of  evil. 

Tom  was  a  country  boy,  and  unsophisticated, 
but  he  could  not  help  understanding  the  nature 
of  the  business  which  brought  so  many  to  the 
place. 

"I   suppose   they   are    gambling,"   he   said. 

"  Yes,  poor,  deluded  creatures  !  "  said  the  Scotch 
man,  who  had  been  brought  up  to  an  abhorrence 
of  games  of  chance.  "  They  are  wasting  their 
time  and  their  substance,  and  foolishly  laying  up 
for  themselves  future  miserj^." 

Had  this  remark  been  heard  it  would  have 
excited  indignation,  and  perhaps  subjected  the 
speaker  to  insult ;  but  the  players  were  too  in- 


210  THE    TOUXG  MIXER;  os, 

tent  upon  their  varying  chances   to   pay  any  atten 
tion   to  the  remarks   of  by-standers. 

"I  hope,  Tom,  you  will  never  yield  to  the 
seductive  lures  of  the  gaming-table,"  continued 
Ferguson. 

"  I  don't  think  there  is  much  danger,"  said 
Tom.  "  I  have  always  been  taught  that  gambling 
is  wicked. ' 

44  May  you  long  feel   so,    my  lad ! " 

Tom  did,  however,  watch  the  players  with  inter 
est.  He  saw  money  lost  and  won,  without  under 
standing  exactly  how  it  was  decided.  From  the 
game  his  attention  was  drawn  to  the  gamesters. 
He  was  led  to  notice,  particularly,  a  young  man 
of  prepossessing  countenance,  who  was  evidently 
profoundly  excited.  From  time  to  time  he  drew 
out  a  roll  of  gold  pieces,  which  he  placed  on  a 
card,  and  invariably  lost.  He  must  have  had  a 
considerable  sum;  but,  small  or  large,  he  was  in 
ill-luck,  and  constantly  lost.  As  he  neared  the 
end  of  his  resources  the  feverish  blush  upon  his 
handsome  features  was  succeeded  by  a  deep  pallor, 
and  there  was  no  mistaking  the  expression  of 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  211 

deep  anguish  and  despair  which  announced  that 
he  had  reached  the  end. 

Tom  became  painfully  interested  in  the  young 
man,  and  silently  drew  the  attention  of  his  com 
panion  to  him.  When  the  end  came,  and  the 
victim,  thoroughly  "cleaned  out,"  turned  to  go 
out,  Tom  said,  in  a  low  voice,  "Let  us  follow 
him." 

Ferguson  acquiesced.  He,  too,  had  become  in 
terested,  and  the  young  man's  expression  as  he 
passed  our  two  friends  was  so  despairing  that 
Ferguson  felt  some  alarm  as  to  the  effect  of  his 
disappointment  upon  his  mind. 

Once  in  the  street,  Ferguson  and  Tom  followed 
the  unfortunate  young  man  into  an  obscure  street, 
keeping  up  with  difficulty,  for  his  pace  was  rapid 
and  excited.  It  proved  to  be  a  fortunate  thing, 
for  when  he  supposed  himself  free  from  observa 
tion  the  young  man  drew  a  pistol,  and,  with  an 
incoherent  exclamation,  placed  it  in  contact  with 
Jiis  temple. 

Tom  sprang  forward,  and  so  did  the  Scotch 
man  ;  but  the  boy  was  the  quicker  and  more 


212  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

agile,  and  dashed  the  pistol  aside  just  in  time 
to  prevent  a  suicide. 

"Why  did  you  do  that?"  asked  the  baffled 
would-be-suicide,  gloomily,  turning  his  gaze  upon 
Tom. 

"  I  was  afraid  you  were  going  to  kill  your 
self." 

"  So   I   was." 

"  What  could  induce  you  to  take  such  a  rash 
step?"  asked  Ferguson. 

"I  have  been  a  reckless  fool.  I  have  lost  all 
my  money  at  the  accursed  gambling- table,  and  my 
life  is  not  worth  retaining." 

"  It  appears  to  me,"  said  the  Scotchman,  quietly, 
4 'that  you  set  too  high  a  value  upon  money. 
You  have  certainly  been  very  foolish  to  risk  it 
at  the  gaming-table,  and  the  loss  will  no  doubt 
inconvenience  you ;  but  was  your  money  all  you 
had  to  live  for?" 

The  }Toung  man  regarded  Ferguson  with  some 
surprise ;  but  his  excitement  was  evidently  abated. 

•9 

The  quiet  tone  of  the  speaker  had  a  favorable 
effect  upon  him. 


TOM    NELSON    IN   CALIFORNIA.  213 

"I  didn't    think    of   it    in   that    light,"   he    ad 
mitted. 

"  Have  you  no  relatives  to  whom  your  life    is 
of  value?" 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  young  man.  "  I  have  a 
mother  and  sister." 

"  Would  not  your  death  affect  them  more  than 
the  loss  of  money?" 

"  Yes." 

"  It  seems  to  me  that  to  take  your  life  would 
be  to  treat  them  cruelly." 

The  young  man  was  evidently  agitated  by  con 
tending  thoughts. 

"I  suppose  you  are  right,"  he  said,  slowly; 
"but  let  me  tell  you  all,  and  you  can  judge  me 
better:  I  arrived  in  California  six  months  since. 
My  home  is  in  Ohio,  not  far  from  Cincinnati.  I 
was  fortunate  enough  to  commence  mining  at  a 
point  on  the  western  slope  of  the  Sierra  Nevada 
Mountain's  where  I  was  almost  alone.  I  '  struck 
it  rich,'  and  two  days  since  arrived  in  San  Fran 
cisco  with  over  two  thousand  dollars  in  gold- 
dust." 


214  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

"You  were  certainly  in  luck,"  said  Ferguson, 
surprised. 

"  I  turned  it  into  money,  and,  in  strolling  about 
the  city,  was  lured  into  that  accursed  den.  I 
looked  on  and  was  fascinated.  I  thought  I 
would  try  my  luck.  I  began  with  a  small  stake, 
and  kept  on  till  I  had  lost  every  dollar.  In  one 
hour  the  fruits  of  six  months'  labor  are  gone.  Do 
you  wonder  that  I  am  reduced  to  despair?" 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  215 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

A   NEW   SCHEME. 

u  I  SEE  no  cause  for  despair,"  replied  Fergu 
son,  in  the  same  calm  tone. 

"I  have  not  a  penny  left  out  of  the  two  thou 
sand  dollars  I  had  only  an  hour  since." 

"  I   understand   all   that." 

"I  am  a  ruined  man,"  said  the  young  man, 
despondently. 

"I  don't  admit  that.     How  old   are  you?" 

"  Twenty-one." 

"You   are   well   and   strong,  are  you   not?" 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  have  nothing  to  complain  of  on 
that  score." 

"  Then  it  appears  to  me  that  your  loss  is  not 
serious.  Your  capital  still  remains." 

"My  capital?"   repeated  the  young  man. 

"  Yes ;  your  strong  arms,  your  education,  your 
capacity  to  labor." 


216  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

"But   I   shall   have   to   begin    over    again." 

"  Beginning  over  again  at  your  age,  when, 
possibly,  fifty  years  of  life  lie  before  you,  is  not 
such  a  serious  matter.  Were  I  in  }Tour  situation,  — 
and  I  am  twice  as  old  as  you,  —  I  should  not 
thing  of  despairing.  Don't  you  think  it  would  be 
rather  foolish  for  two  thousand  dollars,  which  you 
have  been  only  six  months  in  accumulating,  to 
throw  away  fifty  years,  and  all  that  you  can 
make  in  that  time,  thereby  bringing  a  life-long 
grief  to  your  mother  and  sister  ? " 

The  calm,  logical  tone  of  the  Scotchman  had  its 
effect. 

"I  see  that  I  was  about  to  add  to  one  piece 
of  folly  another  far  greater,"  said  the  young  man. 
"I  don't  know  who  you  are,  sir,  but  I  heartily 
thank  you  and  your  son  for  saving  my  life." 

"This  is  not  my  son,  but  my  young  friend, 
Thomas  Nelson,"  said  Ferguson.  "I  am  not  so 
fortunate  as  to  have  a  son." 

"  Well,   God  bless  you   both,    and   good-night ! " 

"  Excuse  my  persistency,  but  may  I  ask  where 
you  are  going?" 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  217 

"I  am  not  going  to  repeat  my  folly  of  just 
now,  if  that  is  what  you  mean." 

44  I  did  not  suspect  you  of  that ;  but  are  you 
sure  of  a  bed  anywhere  ?  " 

44  No ;  I  have  no  money  to  pay  for  one.  I 
shall  walk  the  streets,  or  possibly  lie  down  in 
some  quiet  place.  I  was  accustomed  to  roughing 
it  at  the  mines,  and  can  do  it  again  if  neces 
sary." 

4 'Tom  and  I  have  a  room  in  which  you  are 
welcome  to  find  a  shelter.  I  am  sorry  that  our 
bed  is  too  narrow  to  hold  another." 

44  Thank  you.  That  will  be  better  than  to  sleep 
in  the  streets.  But  are  you  not  afraid  to  make 
me  this  offer?" 

"Why  should  I  be?" 

44 1  might   rob   you  during   the   night." 

44  You  might,  but  you  don't  look  like  one  who 
would  so  reward  confidence." 

44  You  are  right.  If  you  had  fifty  thousand 
dollars  I  would  not  touch  a  dollar  of  it.  I  will 
accept  your  offer.  How  can  I  repay  you  for 
your  kindness  ?  " 


218  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

"There  may  be  a  way.  We  will  talk  of  that 
this  evening." 

Nine  o'clock  found  the  three  collected  in  the 
small  room  which  had  been  hired  by  Ferguson 
for  himself  and  Tom. 

44  My  friend,"  said  Ferguson,  u  you  told  us  that 
you  found  a  favorable  place  for  mining  up  in  the 
Sierras." 

14  Yes,   I   <  struck   it  rich.'" 

UI  take  it  for  granted  that  you  did  not  exhaust 
the  wealth  of  the  place?" 

"  Far  from  it.  I  only  dipped  into  it.  There 
is  abundance  left." 

44  Is  this   place   known   to   many?" 

44  To  only  one,  so  far  as  I  know.  He  and  I 
worked  independently,  but  were  company  for  each 
other." 

44  But  what  induced  you  to  leave  so  rich  a 
claim?" 

44 1  was  tired  of  working,  and  wanted  to  come 
to  the  city  for  a  change.  You  know  what  a 
change  I  have  experienced  here." 

44  Why   don't  you    go  back    and    start    anew   in 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  219 

the  place  where  you  met  with  your  former  good 
fortune?"  asked  Ferguson. 

"  Because  I  am  penniless.  I  must  find  some 
thing  to  do  here  for  a  while.  When  I  have  got 
together  a  little  fund,  sufficient  for  the  purpose, 
I  will  go  back." 

"  Would  you  go  back  now,  if  you  had  the 
chance  ?  " 

"Would  I?  Certainly  I  would,  for  I  could 
make  money  faster  there  than  here." 

u  Would  j'ou  have  any  objection  to  let  Tom 
and  myself  accompany  you?" 

"Not  the  least.  I  should  be  glad  of  your 
company.  There  is  gold  enough  for  us  all." 

"  Then  we  will  start  to-morrow,  that  is,  if  you 
and  Tom  are  willing." 

"I   am   ready,"   said   Tom,   promptly. 

"  But  I  have  nothing.  I  don't  like  to  be  an 
expense  to  you,"  objected  the  }'oung  man. 

"  We  will  pay  j'our  expenses.  We  shall  be 
more  than  recompensed  by  the  richness  of  the 
mines.  We  might  find  something  to  do  here,  but 
both  Tom  and  myself  prefer  the  freedom  of  the 


220  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    O/Z, 

mining  camp,  and,  if  the  spot  is  as  rich  as  you 
have  led  us  to  suspect,  we  shall  make  more 
money  there." 

"Agreed!"  said  the  young  man,  promptly. 
"  Name  the  hour  of  starting,  and  rely  upon  me 
to  be  ready." 

Ferguson  was  evidently  well  pleased  with  this 
response.  He  felt  that  his  new  acquaintance  would 
be  so  far  away  from  the  city,  and  would  sooner 
retrieve  his  fortunes  at  the  mines.  He  hoped,  too, 
to  find  opportunity  to  strengthen  his  principles, 
and  guard  him  against  the  temptations  of  the 
city  when  he  should  again  visit  it.  Again,  he 
had  reason  to  think  that  the  arrangement  would 
benefit  Tom  and  himself  in  a  pecuniary  wa}r,  and 
the  Scotchman  was  by  no  means  indifferent  to 
that  consideration ;  though,  as  we  have  seen,  he 
did  not  unduly  exalt  the  power  or  value  of  money. 

Tom,  too,  was  pleased  with  the  prospect.  He 
was  grateful  and  attached  to  Ferguson,  whom  he 
felt  to  be  a  true  friend,  but  he  was  glad  to 
have  another  companion  nearer  his  own  age.  The 
young  man  was  of  a  prepossessing  exterior,  and 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  221 

when  he  had  shaken  off  his  present  disquietude 
looked  as  if  he  might  be  a  cheerful  and  agree 
able  companion. 

"  Since  we  are  to  live  together,  for  a  time  at 
least,  and  become  fellow- workers,"  said  Ferguson, 
"  we  ought  to  know  each  other  better.  I  will 
introduce  myself  first." 

Hereupon  Ferguson  gave  a  brief  account  of 
himself,  which  need  not  be  repeated,  and  then 
called  upon  Tom,  who  followed  his  example. 

"  Now  it  is  my  turn,"  said  their  new  acquaint 
ance.  "  You  don't  even  know  my  name  3Tet,  though 
you  have  done  me  such  an  important  service.  I 
have  already  told  you  that  I  am  from  Ohio.  My 
name  is  Richard  Russell,  though  my  friends  generally 
call  me  Dick.  My  father,  whom  I  had  the  mis 
fortune  to  lose  several  years  since,  was  at  one 
time  a  member  of  Congress.  He  left  a  small 
property,  the  income  of  which  is  barely  sufficient 
to  provide  my  mother  and  sister  with  the  comforts 
of  life.  I  had  a  fair  education,  including  enough 
Latin  and  Greek  to  fit  me  for  entering  college. 
My  mother  desired  me  to  enter;  but  I  knew 


222  THE   TOUNO  MINER;  on, 

that  she  could  not  keep  me  there  without  practis 
ing  pinching  economy,  and  I  secured  a  place  with 
a  small  salary  in  a  business  house  in  Cincinnati. 
A  year  since,  when  the  papers  were  full  of  the 
gold  discoveries  on  this  coast,  I  was  seized,  like 
so  many  others,  with  the  golden  fever,  and 
arranged  to  start  overland.  It  would  have  proved 
a  wise  step  had  I  not  been  so  rash  a  fool  as 
to  squander  my  earnings ;  for  two  thousand  dollars 
in  six  months  compare  very  favorably  with  twelve 
dollars  a  week,  which  I  was  earning  at  home. 
I  might  have  gone  home  by  the  next  steamer, 
and  had  money  enough  to  carry  me  through  a 
course  of  legal  study,  had  I  desired.  I  am  out 
of  patience  with  myself  when  I  think  of  how  I 
have  thrown  away  my  good  fortune." 

"  Don't  think  too  much  of  the  past,  which  can 
not  be  recalled.  Resolve  not  to  repeat  your  folly, 
and  all  may  yet  be  well." 

"  I  have  fully  resolved  upon  that,"  said  Russell, 
earnestly. 

44  Do  you  think  you  shall  study  law,  if  you 
are  again  fortunate,  Mr.  Russell?"  asked  Tom. 


TOM   NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  223 

"If  you  please  don't  call  me  Mr.  Russell, 
unless  you  want  me  to  call  you  Mr.  Nelson.  Call 
me  Dick." 

"I  will,"  said  Tom,  smiling,  "  for  I  am  not 
ready  to  be  called  Mr.  Nelson  yet." 

"Now,  to  answer  your  question:  if  I  can  get 
two  thousand  dollars  together  again,  I  shall 
probably  study  law.  Of  course  I  don't  mean  to 
be  a  miner  all  my  life  any  more  than  you.  Now, 
Tom,  what  are  your  plans?" 

"I  think  I  should  like  to  be  a  lawyer,  too, 
but  I  must  earn  more  than  two  thousand  dollars 
first." 

"Two  thousand  ought  to  be  sufficient  to  educate 
you  if  you  are  economical." 

"It  would  be,  but  I  want  to  pay  off  a 
mortgage  on  my  father's  farm  before  I  begin  to 
lay  up  money  for  myself." 

"You  are  a  good  fellow,  Tom,  and  I  wish  you 
success." 

"  Thank  you,  Dick.  I  will  succeed  if  hard 
work  can  bring  success." 

"Good-night  to  you  both,"  said  Ferguson.     "1 


224  THE   YOUNG  MINER;  OR, 

want   to   sleep   well   to   prepare  myself  for   starting 
to-morrow." 
In  half  an  hour  all  three  were  sleeping  soundly. 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  225 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

PREPARING     FOR    A   NEW   START. 

WHEN  Tom  opened  his  eyes  he  did  not  at  first 
remember  where  he  was,  but  a  glance  at  Dick 
Russell,  his  new  acquaintance,  stretched  out  on 
the  floor  and  still  sleeping,  quickly  recalled  the 
important  events  of  the  day  previous.  Mr.  Fer 
guson  was  already  dressed. 

"Well,   Tom,   are  you  rested?"   he    asked. 

"  Yes,  Mr.  Ferguson ;  I  slept  like  a  top. 
What  time  is  it?" 

"It  is  seven  o'clock.  Our  new  friend  is  still 
asleep." 

"  I  suppose  he  was  on  his  feet  all  day  yes 
terday." 

"I  don't  know  whether  I  ought  to  hurry  you 
away  from  San  Francisco  so  soon,  Tom,"  said 
his  Scotch  friend.  "  We  only  arrived  yesterday, 
and  you  have  not  had  time  to  see  the  place,  and 


THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR^ 

enjoy  yourself  after  your  hard  work  at  the 
mines.'1 

"I  don't  care  for  that,  Mr.  Ferguson.  I  am 
anxious  to  be  at  work  again.  I  didn't  come  out 
here  to  enjoy  myself,  but  to  make  money  for  my 
father." 

uYou  have  succeeded  pretty  well  thus  far, 
Tom." 

"Yes;  but  I  have  made  more  by  the  sale  of 
the  team  than  by  work  at  the  mines." 

"  True  $  but  that  is  a  legitimate  transaction. 
If  our  friend  here  has  reported  correctly,  we  shall 
find  mining  more  profitable  in  the  place  he  men 

tions  than  at  River  Bend." 
/ 

"I  have  no  objection  to  that,  though  I  was 
satisfied  with  River  Bend.  Wouldn't  it  be  splen 
did,  Mr.  Ferguson,  if  we  could  do  as  well  in  the 
next  six  months  as  he  did  ? " 

"Making  two   thousand   dollars   each?" 

"  Yes." 

"  We  may  accomplish  it ;  but  it  is  best  not  to 
calculate  upon  it." 

"  If  I  could  only  free  the  farm  from  that  trouble- 


TOM   NELSON   IN  CALIFORNIA.  227 

some  mortgage  I  should  be  proud  and  happy.  It 
has  worn  upon  father,  as  I  could  see,  and  he  has 
been  compelled  to  toil  early  and  late  to  pay  the 
interest,  besides  supporting  us  all." 

"How   much   is   the   mortgage,   Tom?" 

"  Twenty-two  hundred  dollars." 

"  You  have  made  a  good  beginning  towards  it 
already,  Tom.  You  have  seven  hundred  dollars 
invested  in  business." 

u  But  out  of  that  I  owe  you  a  hundred  and 
fifty,  Mr.  Ferguson." 

"  Don't  trouble  yourself  about  that,  Tom.  Unless 
I  should  stand  in  great  need  of  it,  I  will  wait  till 
you  have  paid  off  the  mortgage  before  asking  to 
have  it  repaid." 

"  You  are  very  kind,  Mr.  Ferguson,"  said  Tom, 
gratefully.  u  A  part  of  my  seven  hundred  dollars 
rightfully  belongs  to  you,  for  }'ou  owned  two- thirds 
of  the  horse  and  wagon." 

"  I  couldn't  have  bought  th«m  without  your  help, 
Tom.  So  you  see  that  you  enabled  me  to  make 
mone}7".  I  am  quite  satisfied  with  an  equal  part 
nership." 


228  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

"  And  I  am  very  well  satisfied  with  my  partner," 
said  Tom,  smiling.     "  Shall  we  wake  up  Russell?" 
"Yes,  for   we   have   much   to   do   to-day." 

John   Miles  will   be  surprised   at  my  leaving  the 

i/ 
city  so   quick. 

"  By  the  way,  Tom,  as  he  is  to  remain  here, 
while  you  are  out  of  the  reach  of  post-offices,  it 
may  be  well  to  ask  your  father  to  direct  future 
letters  to  his  care,  and  he  can  forward  them  as 
he  has  opportunity." 

"That  is  a  good  idea.  I  will  write  to-day  so 
as  to  catch  the  next  steamer,  and  I  will  also 
speak  to  John." 

Tom  had  to  shake  Dick  Russell  energetically 
before  that  young  man  opened  his  eyes. 

"What's   the  matter?"   he   ejaculated,  drowsily. 

"Don't  you  want  some  breakfast?"  asked  Tom. 

"Oh,  it's  you,  Tom!  Yes,  you  have  touched 
the  right  chord.  I  have  a  first-class  appetite  — 
and  no  money,"  he  added,  his  face  clouding. 

"  Mr.  Ferguson  is  treasurer,"  said  Tom,  lightly, 
wishing  to  divert  Russell  from  the  thoughts  of 
bis  heavy  loss,  and  the  folly  to  which  he  owed 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  229 

it;  "but  we  know  very  little  of  the  city.  Can 
you  guide  us  to  a  good  restaurant?" 

"  To  a  good  one,  but  not  a  cheap  one.  Ever}T- 
thing  is  high  here/' 

"Then  it  is  fortunate  we  are  going  to  leave 
so  soon." 

In  a  small  restaurant,  on  Montgomery  street,  our 
three  friends  partook  of  a  hearty  breakfast.  It 
might  not  have  attracted  an  epicure,  but  neither 
of  the  three  was  fastidious ;  and,  though  the  charge 
was  five  dollars,  Ferguson,  economical  as  he  was, 
paid  the  bill  cheerfully.  It  was  the  first  "civil 
ized"  breakfast  he  had  eaten  for  months,  and  it 
might  be  months  before  he  would  be  able  to  par 
take  of  another  as  good. 

"  I  wish  we  could  breakfast  like  this  at  the 
mines,"  said  Tom. 

"  So  say  I,"  chimed  in  Dick  Russell ;  "  but 
you  know  that  the  gold-hunter  must  sacrifice  home 
comforts." 

"  I  shan't  complain  of  that,  if  I  can  do  as 
well  as  you  did,"  said  Tom. 

"I    see    no    reason    why    you    can't.     There    is 


230  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

plenty  of  gold  there,  and  all  that  is  needed  is 
work  and  perseverance." 

u  I  am  willing  to  contribute  them,"  said  Tom. 
"  I  mean  to  do  my  best  to  succeed." 

"  None  of  us  can  do  more,  my  lad,"  said 
Ferguson.  "  Let  us  hope  that  God  will  prosper 
our  undertakings." 

"  I  say,  I  am  glad  I  have  met  with  you  two," 
said  Dick  Russell.  "  You'll  keep  me  on  the  right 
track;  and,  in  spite  of  my  past  folly,  I  hope  in 
time  to  win  success." 

u  I  am  glad  to  hear  you  speak  so  sensibly,  my 
young  friend,"  said  the  Scotchman,  kindly.  "  It's  a 
great  deal  better  to  put  your  back  to  the  wheel 
once  more,  than  to  take  the  life  God  gave  you." 

"Don't  speak  of  that  again,  Mr.  Ferguson," 
said  Russell,  shuddering.  "I  don't  like  to  think 
of  it." 

"  He'll  do,"  thought  Ferguson,  with  satisfaction. 
"  His  mind  is  now  in  a  healthy  condition,  and  I 
have  great  hopes  of  him." 

The  rest  of  the  day  was  devoted  to  the  pur 
chase  of  supplies.  Ferguson  also  bought  a  mule, 


TOM    NELSON    IN   CALIFORNIA.  231 

in  behalf  of  the  party,  which  was  of  set  vice  in 
carrying  a  part  of  their  burdens.  It  was  not  until 
afternoon  that  Tom  found  an  opportunity  to  call 
on  John  Miles,  and  acquaint  him  with  his  almost 
immediate  departure. 

"I  am  sorry  you  are  going  away  so  soon, 
Tom,"  said  Miles.  "  I  thought  you  would  stay  at 
least  a  week." 

"  So  I  would  if  I  were  not  so  anxious  to  be 
at  work  once  more.  You  know  how  my  father 
is  situated,  John,  for  I  have  told  you  more  than 
once." 

"Yes,  Tom;  but  I  see  no  reason  why  you 
should  feel  uneasy.  With  the  help  you  are  to 
send  him,  there  will  be  no  trouble  about  his  paying 
his  interest  regularly." 

"  I  know  that,  John  ;  but  I  shall  feel  uneasy  until 
the  mortgage  is  paid  off,  and  he  is  out  of  Squire 
Hudson's  power." 

"For  how  long  a  time  has  the  farm  your 
father  owns  been  encumbered  with  this  mort 
gage?" 

4 'For  ten  years,  at  least." 


232  THE    TOUNO  MINER;  OR, 

"  Is  the  mortgage  for  any  specified  term  oi 
years  ?  " 

<kl  don't  think  so." 

"It  merely  runs  from  year  to  year  then?" 

"  I  suppose  so." 

"  In  that  case  this  Squire  Hudson  could  foreclose 
at  any  time,  could  he  not?" 

"  Yes,"  answered  Tom,  soberly. 

"  Don't  make  yourself  uneasy  about  it,  however," 
said  Miles,  observing  that  Tom  seemed  apprehen 
sive.  "  As  your  father's  farm  is  not  particularly 
valuable,  there  can  be  no  danger  of  foreclosure. 
By  the  way,  wouldn't  you  like  to  have  me  remit  your 
father  something  next  month  out  of  the  profits  of 
the  business  ?  —  I  can  charge  it  to  your  account." 

"I  am  glad  you  mentioned  it,  John.  You  may 
send  him  fifty  or  seventy-five  dollars,  if  my  share 
should  amount  to  so  much." 

"I  will." 

"  And  I  am  going  to  have  my  home  letters  di 
rected  to  your  care.  You  can  forward  them  to  me 
whenever  you  have  an  opportunity." 

"  I    won't   fail,  Tom.     If  there   is  anything  you 


TOM    NELSON    IN   CALIFORNJA. 


233 


need  sent  out  to  you,  you  have  only  to  write  me, 

and  I  will  attend  to  your  commissions." 

44  It   is  very  convenient    to  have  an  agent  in  the 

city,"  said  John,  smiling.     "  I  shall  feel  much  more 

comfortable  out  at  the  mines." 

44  I  wish  you  good  luck,  Tom  ;  but  remember,  even 

if  you  don't  succeed  in  your  search  for  gold,  I  shall 

be  making  money  for  you  here." 

44  You  make  me  feel  quite  like  a  capitalist,  John." 
44 1  hope  you  may  be  one  some  day.     Good-by  ! " 
They  shook  hands   and  parted.     Before  nightfall 

Tom    had  started  on  his  new  journey  in  quest  of 

gold. 


234  THE     YOUNG    MINER; 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

TVHITEFACE. 

MARK  NELSON  missed  sorely  the  cow  which  he 
had  been  compelled  to  yield  to  the  squire  on  ac 
count  of  default  of  interest.  Whiteface  was  his 
best  cow,  and  a  great  favorite  with  all  the  children. 
She  gave  nearly  as  much  milk  as  the  other  two, 
and  had  been  one  of  the  main  dependences  of  the 
family.  It  was  worth  considerably  more  than  the 
thirty  dollars  for  which  the  squire  took  it;  but  he 
insisted  upon  that  and  no  other,  and  Whiteface 
had  to  go. 

Six  months  had  passed,  and  there  seemed  to  be 
very  little  chance  of  redeeming  the  lost  cow. 
Squire  Hudson  had  agreed  to  give  her  back  on  pay 
ment  of  the  balance  due,  with  accrued  interest ;  but 
neither  he  nor  Mark  Nelson  expected  that  such  an 
offer  would  be  made. 

"I  was  passing  Squire  Hudson's  to-day,  and  saw 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  235 

poor  Whiteface,"  said  Walter,  one  evening.  "I 
think  she  knew  me,  for  when  I  called  her  she  lowed 
back." 

"  T  wish  we  had  her  back,"  said  Sarah.  "  It  was 
heartless  in  the  squire  to  take  her.  He  had  a 
dozen  cows  of  his  own." 

11  He  hasn't  any  heart,"  said  Walter,  "  or,  if  he 
has,  it  must  be  pretty  small." 

4 'We  must  not  forget  that  he  was  entitled  to 
some  security  fbr  the  balance  of  interest  I  owe 
him,"  said  the  farmer. 

"  The  cow  was  worth  a  good  deal  more  than 
thirty  dollars,"  said  Sarah. 

"  Yes,  she  was;  but  I  am  not  sure  whether  I 
could  have  got  any  more  money  for  her  at  a  forced 
sale.  Then  you  know  the  squire  is  pledged  to  give 
her  back  whenever  I  can  pay  him  the  thirty  dollars, 
with  interest." 

"  I  wish  you  could  pay  it  now,  father,"  said 
Walter. 

"  So  do  I,  my  boy;  but  I  cannot,  unless  your 
brother  sends  me  some  money." 

"It    is   three   weeks   since   we   have   heard  from 


236  THE     YOUNQ    MINER;    OR, 

Tom,"  said  Mrs.  Nelson,  anxiously.  "  I  am  afraid 
he  is  sick." 

u  Don't  worry  yourself  with  imaginary  fears, 
Mary,"  said  her  husband.  "  Tom  may  be  sick^of 
course ;  but  he  is  strong  and  healthy,  and  we  won't 
fear  such  a  thing  without  some  ground.  Probably 
a  letter  is  on  the  way  from  him  now." 

"  I  hope  he  is  making  money,"  said  Walter.  "  I 
wish  I  were  with  him." 

"  I  would  never  consent  to  have  }TOU  go  too,"  said 
Mrs.  Nelson,  hastily. 

"  I  don't  think  Walter  seriously  thinks  of  asking 
leave,"  said  Mr.  Nelson,  smiling.  "  As  he  is  only 
thirteen  years  old,  I  should  be  inclined  to  object 
m}Tself.  I  must  have  him  at  home  to  help  me  with 
the  farm." 

u  I  should  be  perfectly  contented  to  stay  at  home 
if  we  had  Whitefnce  back,"  said  Walter.  "  I've  a 
great  mind  to  steal  her  out  of  the  squire's  yard. 
I  bet  she'd  be  glad  to  come." 

"  Don't  speak  in  that  way,  Walter,"  said  his 
father.  "I  dislike  to  have  you  speak  of  stealing, 
even  in  fun." 


TOM    NELSON   IN    CALIFORNIA.  237 

At  this  moment  there  was  a  knock  at  the  front 
door.  Farmer  Nelson's  house  was  an  old-fashioned 
one,  and  not  provided  with  a  bell. 

"Go  to   the   door,    Sarah,"   said  her   father. 

Sarah   obe}Ted. 

''Good-evening,  Nahum,"  she  said  to  the  village 
expressman. 

"I've  got  a  small  package  for  your  folks," 
said  Nahum.  "It's  marked  all  over.  Guess  it 
came  from  Californy." 

"  It  must  be  from  Tom,"  exclaimed  Sarah,  in 
delight. 

"  That's  what  I  thought,"  said  the  expressman, 
who  knew  everybody  in  the  village,  and  could 
probably  give  a  fairly  correct  list  of  their  sisters, 
cousins,  and  aunts,  with  a  fair  guess  at  their 
worldly  circumstances. 

"Is   there   anything   to   pay,    Nahum?" 

"Only  fifty  cents,  —  the  expressage  from  Boston. 
Never  mind  about  it  now,  for  I'm  in  a  hurry. 
Your  father  can  hand  it  to  me  next  time  he  sees 
me." 

"  O   father,   here's   a  package    from  Tom,"    said 


238  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OK, 

Sarah,  hurrying  into  the  room  where  they  wera 
all  sitting. 

41  Open  it  quick,"  said  Walter.  "  See  if  there's 
any  money  in  it." 

The  cord  was  cut,  and  a  small  box  was  dis 
closed  containing  a  hundred  dollars  in  gold  pieces 
and  a  line  from  Tom,  stating  that  he  was  doing 
well,  and  that  he  hoped  soon  to  send  some  more 
money. 

"A  hundred  dollars!  What  a  lot  of  money!" 
exclaimed  Walter,  gazing  on  the  little  pile  of 
coins  as  if  fascinated. 

44  I  am  so  glad  the  dear  boy  is  doing  well," 
said  Mrs.  Nelson. 

44  Now  we  can  have  Whiteface  back,  can't  we, 
father?"  asked  Walter,  joyfully. 

"Yes,  Walter,"  said  Mark  Nelson,  almost  as 
excited  as  his  son.  "I  will  go  over  the  first 
thing  in  the  morning." 

"Can't  we  go  over  this  evening?"  asked  Wal 
ter,  impatiently. 

4 'No,  it  is  dark,  and  Whiteface  is  stalled  for 
the  night." 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA. 

"You'll  have  seventy  dollars  left  over,  father, 
won't  }'ou?" 

"  Yes ;  and  that  will  provide  for  my  next  inter 
est.  I  feel  grateful  and  happy  at  Tom's  success 
and  his  thoughtful  ness." 

Could  Tom  have  seen  the  effect  of  his  remit 
tance  it  would  have  made  his  heart  glad,  and  he 
would  have  felt  abundantly  repaid  for  his  labor 
and  self-denial. 


240  THE     YOUNG    MINER;   OX, 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 
SQUIRE  HUDSON'S  DISAPPOINTMENT. 

IF  Whiteface  was  missed  at  her  old  home,  she 
was  scarcely  less  appreciated  by  her  new  pos 
sessor.  On  the  very  morning  succeeding  the  day 
when  Tom's  remittance  was  received  the  squire 
remarked  to  his  head  workman,  u  Whiteface  is  an 
excellent  cow,  Abner." 

44  Yes,  squire,  I  calculate  she's  the  best  you've 
got." 

"  I  don't  know  but  she  is,  Abner,"  said  the 
squire,  complacently.  "  I  consider  her  worth  at 
least  fifty  dollars." 

44  So  she   is,   every   cent  of  it." 

44  And  she  cost  me  only  thirty,"  thought  Squire 
Hudson,  with  a  smile  of  content. 

He  was  a  rich  man,  and  abundantly  able  to  pay 
nis  poor  neighbor  the  full  value  of  the  cow ;  but 
somehow  it  never  occurred  to  him  to  do  it.  He 


TOM    NELSON    IN   CALIFORNIA.  241 

was  not  above  taking  an  unfair  advantage  of  a 
man  who  was  unluckily  in  his  power.  Of  course 
the  squire  knew  that  Farmer  Nelson  had  a  right 
to  redeem  the  cow  at  the  price  agreed  upon 
with  interest ;  but  he  felt  prett}^  safe  on  this 
point.  The  farmer  was  not  very  likely  to  have 
thirty  dollars  to  spare,  and  as  for  a  remittance 
from  Tom  the  squire  was  pretty  sure  none  would 
be  received. 

44  It'll  be  all  the  boy  can  do  to  take  care  of  him 
self  out  there,"  he  reflected,  u  let  alone  sending 
money  home.  He  may  send  ten  dollars  or  so 
some  time  ;  but  it's  very  doubtful,  very  doubtful !  " 

Squire  Hudson  turned  to  go  back  to  the  house 
when  he  saw  the  man  of  whom  he  had  been 
thinking  coming  up  the  road.  He  stopped  short, 
thinking  the  farmer  might  wish  to  speak  to  him. 

u  Good-morning,  Mr.  Nelson,"  he  said,  pleas 
antly,  for  he  was  in  good-humor. 

"Good-morning,    squire." 

"Your  Whiteface  has  got  to  feel  quite  at  home 
in  my  barn-yard." 

"  She  is   a  good   cow,    Squire  Hudson." 


242  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

"Yes,   tolerable,   tolerable." 

"  She  is  worth  more  than  the  thirty  dollars  for 
which  you  took  her." 

"Well,  I  don't  know  about  that.  Cows  are 
pretty  cheap  nowadays." 

"I  see  how  it  is,"  thought  the  squire.  "  Nel- 
eon  wants  me  to  allow  him  more  for  the  cow ; 
^ut  a  bargain  is  a  bargain,  and  I  shan't  do  it." 

"I  always  valued  her  at  a  considerably  higher 
price." 

"No  doubt,  no  doubt.  You  raised  her  your 
self,  didn't  you?" 

"  Yes." 

"  That  makes  a  difference,  of  course.  You 
attach  a  sentimental  value  to  her;  but  that  doesn't 
affect  her  real  value.  I  really  can't  allow  you 
any  more  for  her.'" 

"  I   don't   want  you  to,    Squire   Hudson." 

The   squire   looked   astonished. 

"What  is   the   man   driving   at?"   he   thought. 

"  She  may  not  be  worth  any  more  to  you,  and 
BO  you  won't  mind  my  taking  her  back." 

"Taking  her  back!"   ejaculated   the   squire. 


TOM    NELSON    IN   CALIFORNIA.  24? 

"  Certainly  ;  it  was  agreed  that  I  could  redeem 
her  at  any  time,  by  paying  you  the  thirty  dollars 
and  interest." 

"  Not  after  two  months,"  said  the  squire,  hastity. 

"It  is  not  two  months.  It  was  only  six  weeks 
yesterday.  The  fact  is,  squire,  I've  come  foi 
Whiteface,  and  I've  got  the  mone3r  for  you." 

"  Have  you  heard  from  Tom  ? "  asked  the  squire, 
with  a  blank  look  of  disappointment. 

"Yes;  I  heard  from  him  yesterday." 

:<And  he  sent  you  some  money?" 

"  Yes  ;   he  reports  that  he  is  doing  well." 

"Did  he  send  you  thirty  dollars?" 

"  Rather  more  than  that,"  said  Mark  Nelson, 
not  caring  to  gratify  the  curiosity  of  his  creditor. 

"  I  think  you  had  better  keep  your  money,  and 
leave  Whiteface  with  me,"  said  Squire  Hudson,  after 
a  pause. 

"  I  would  rather  not,  squire.  The  fact  is, 
Whiteface  is  a  sort  of  pet  at  home,  and  we  all 
want  her  back." 

Squire  Hudson  was  disconcerted.  He  had  not 
expected  that  Mr.  Nelson  would  be  able  to  ic- 


244  THE     YOUNG     MINER;    OR^ 

deem  the  cow,  and  he  was  reluctant  to  give  her 
up.  But  there  was  no  excuse  for  retaining  her. 
His  agreement  stood  in  the  way. 

"Neighbor  Nelson,"  he  said,  after  a  pause,  "I 
don't  mind  giving  you  five  dollars  over  and  above 
what  you  owe  me  for  Whiteface.  Come,  that's  a 
good  offer  " 

Mark   Nelson   shook  his   head. 

"She's  worth  more  than  that,"  he  said.  "  But 
that's  neither  here  nor  there.  I  raised  the  animal, 
and  it  was  sorely  against  my  will  that  I  parted 
with  her  six  weeks  ago.  Now  that  I  have  tl;-e 
money  to  pay  you  I  want  her  back." 

"I  think  you  are  standing  in  your  own  light, 
Mr.  Nelson,"  said  the  squire.  "  I  have  taken  a 
fancy  to  the  cow,  and  am  willing  to  pay  more 
for  her  than  she  is  worth.  I  will  say  ten  dollars." 

Mark  Nelson  shook  his  head. 

"  I'd  rather  have  Whiteface  than  the  money," 
he  said. 

"  If  she  comes  into  my  possession  again,"  said 
Squire  Hudson,  "  I  shall  not  be  willing  to  grant 
vou  the  privilege  of  redeeming  her.  It  won't  be 


TOM    NELSON    IN   CALIFORNIA.  245 

many  months  before  another  payment  becomes 
due." 

"I  hope  to  be  ready  to  meet  it,  squire,"  said 
the  farmer,  not  appearing  at  all  anxious. 

"  He  seems  very  independent,"  thought  the  squire, 
watching,  moodily,  the  cow  driven  away  by  her 
former  owner.  "He  may  sing  another  tune  on 
interest  day.  I  wonder  how  much  the  boy  sent 
home." 

Had  he  known  that  Mr.  Nelson  had  in  his 
pocket  enough  money  to  pay  the  whole  of  the 
next  accruing  interest,  he  would  have  felt  more 
doubtful  about  recovering  the  cow  which  he  now 
coveted  more  than  ever. 

"Well,  Abner,  I've  lost  her,"  said  the  squire, 
hurrying  to  his  assistant;  "but  she'll  be  back 
here  some  day,  mark  my  words ! " 

"I  thought  you  bought  her,  squire,"  said  Abner, 
in  surprise. 

"Well,  not  exactly.  I  took  her  for  a  debt; 
but  Nelson  had  the  right  of  redeeming  her,  and 
he  has  done  it.  His  boy  sent  him  the  money." 

"  That  Tom  Nelson  is  a  smart  boy,"  said  Abner, 


246  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

who,  though  in  the  squire's  employ,  was  friendly 
to  our  hero. 

"  Well,  so-so,"  remarked  the  squire,  indiffer- 
erently.  "I  helped  him  to  go  to  California;  but 
I  am  not  sure  whether  it  was  a  wise  step.  I 
let  my  feelings  get  the  better  of  my  judgment." 

"Then  it  is  the  first  time,"  was  Abner's  un 
spoken  comment. 

"  It  may  turn   out  for  the   best,"  he   said   aloud. 

"I  doubt  if  I  shall  ever  see  my  money  again," 
said  the  squire ;  but  he  did  not  seem  to  take  it 
to  heart,  judging  from  his  manner  and  tone. 

"  Didn't  you  have  security  for  the  loan?"  asked 
Abner. 

u  Well,  ye-es,"  answered  the  squire,  slowly ; 
"  but  not  very  good.  The  farm  was  already  mort 
gaged  for  its  full  value." 

44  The  squire  is  getting  benevolent,"  thought 
Abner,  "or  he  wants  me  to  think  so;  but  I'm 
inclined  to  think  he  has  some  object  under  it  all. 
What  is  it?" 

A  few  weeks  later  Farmer  Nelson's  heart  was 
gladdened  by  the  receipt  of  another  remittance 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  247 

this  time  sent  by  John  Miles,  out  of  the  profit 
of  the  business  in  which  Tom  was  his  partner. 
The  amount  this  time  was  seventy-five  dollars.  It 
made  him  feel  quite  rich. 

"  Mar}r,"  he  said,  "  we  all  need  some  new 
clothes,  and  I  propose  to  use  this  money  for  that 
purpose.  Now  I  want  you  to  consider  how  we 
can  spend  it  to  the  best  advantage.  To  begin 
with,  you  must  buy  a  new  dress.  You  have  long 
needed  one." 

Mrs.  Nelson  demurred  a  little,  but  was  forced 
to  admit  that  the  dress  was  needed.  So  the 
purchases  were  made  at  once.  It  is  wonderful 
how  far  seventy-five  dollars  will  go  in  an  econom 
ical  family  of  plain  tastes.  It  was  soon  apparent 
to  the  neighbors  that  the  Nelsons  were  exhibiting 
signs  of  prosperity. 

"It  must   be   Tom,"   they   decided. 

Efforts  were  made  to  ascertain  just  how  much 
our  hero  had  sent  home ;  but  on  this  point  the 
Nelsons  would  not  speak  definitely.  They  reported 
in  geneiil  terms  that  Tom  was  doing  well. 

Of   course   Squire   Hudson   was   not   ignorant   of 


248  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    Ofl, 

the  apparent  improvement  in  the  fortunes  of  his 
debtor.  Strange  to  sa}T,  he  seemed  rather  annoyed. 
He  was  pleased,  however,  by  the  outlay  for  dress. 

"They're  getting  extravagant,  Abner,"  he  said, 
cheerfulty.  "  I  thought  Mark  Nelson  was  a  man 
of  more  sense.  Because  his  son  has  sent  home  a 
little  money,  he  must  rig  out  the  whole  family 
in  new  clothes.  '  A  fool  and  his  money  are  soon 
parted/  " 

"Mark  Nelson  is  no  fool,"  said  Abrier,  stoutly. 

"He  is  in  this  instance,"  said  the  squire, 
sharply.  "  However,  I  don't  object  to  it,  if  he 
likes  to  violate  the  rules  of  prudence.  It  strikes 
me,  however,  that  it  would  be  well  for  him  to 
pay  up  the  money  I  advanced  for  Tom's  expenses, 
before  buying  new  clothes  wholesale." 

Abner  repeated  this  to  Mr.  Nelson. 

The  farmer  answered  quietty,  "The  squire  is 
not  whollj'  wrong.  It  is  good  doctrine  to  pay 
3Tour  debts  before  you  spend  money  for  what  you 
don't  need.  In  this  case,  however,  we  did  need 
the  clothes  we  bought.  Now  that  we  are  pro 
vided,  I  hope,  before  very  long,  if  Tom  is  pros- 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  243 

pered,  to  pay  back  the  two  hundred  dollars  the 
squire  advanced  for  him." 

"  I  hope  you  will,  I'm  sure,"  said  Abner. 
"That's  a  smart  boy  of  yours,  and  I  always 
said  so." 

"  He  is  a  good  boy,  and  I  am  sure  he  will  do 
what  is  right." 

"  He's  a  blamed  sight  better  than  the  squire's 
boy.  Sinclair  is  a  stuck- up  jackanapes,  and  it 
would  do  me  good  to  kick  him." 

"It  might   not   do   him   any   good." 

"I  am  not  sure  about  that;  I  think  he  needs 
it." 


250  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 

THE   NEW   DIGGINGS. 

MEANWHILE  Tom  and  his  party,  pursuing  their 
journey  by  easy  stages,  for  they  sensibly  deter 
mined  not  to  overtask  their  strength,  reached  at 
last  the  spot  of  which  Russell  had  spoken.  Fer 
guson  and  Tom  soon  found  that  he  had  not 
exaggerated.  The  new  diggings  were  certainly 
far  richer  than  those  at  River  Bend.  It  was,  in 
fact,  the  bed  of  a  dead  river  upon  which  Rus 
sell  had  stumbled  without  knowing  it.  My  readers 
are  probably  aware  that  in  the  beds  of  rivers  or 
creeks  the  early  miners  found  their  first  harvest 
of  gold,  and,  that,  where  practicable,  these  were 
mined  by  turning  the  stream  in  the  dry  season, 
when  the  water  was  low.  As  it  may  not  be  so 
well  understood  what  is  meant  by  a  dead  river, 
I  quote  a  passage  from  an  article  in  the  "  Over 
land  Monthly,"  as  found  in  the  pages  of  the 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  251 

14  Pacific    Coast    Mining    Review,"    for    the    year 
1878-79  :  — 

"A  dead  river  is  one  which  formerly  existed, 
but  exists  no  longer.  In  volcanic  regions  it 
sometimes  happens  that  the  liquid  lava,  seeking 
the  lowest  ground,  fills  up  the  beds  of  the  rivers 
which  die  and  are  replaced  by  water-courses  run 
ning  in  other  channels  and  in  different  directions. 
These  dead  streams  are  so  few,  and  of  so  little 
importance  elsewhere,  that,  as  }~et,  I  believe,  no 
class  name  has  been  given  to  them ;  but  in  Cal 
ifornia  they  are  among  the  chief  source  of  its 
mineral  wealth,  and  among  the  most  remarkable 
features  of  its  geological  formation.  They  take 
us  back  to  a  remote  era,  before  the  time  of 
Rome,  of  Greece,  or  of  Egypt;  far  back  beyond 
the  origin  of  history  or  tradition,  before  our  coast 
had  taken  its  present  shapes ;  before  Shasta,  and 
Lassen,  and  Castle  Peaks  had  poured  out  their 
lava  floods ;  before  the  Sacramento  river  had  its 
birth ;  and  while,  if  not  before,  the  mastodon, 
the  elephant,  the  rhinoceros,  the  horse,  the  mam 
moth  bull,  the  tapir,  and  the  bison  lived  in  the 


252  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OJZ, 

land.  They  are  indeed  among  the  most  remark 
able  discoveries  of  the  age,  and  among  the  greatest 
wonders  of  geology.  They  deserve  some  common 
name,  and  we  have  to  choose  between  '  extinct  * 
and  '  dead.'  We  speak  of  '  extinct  volcanoes,' 
and  of  '  dead  languages, '  and,  as  the  latter  is 
Saxon  and  short,  we  prefer  it.  They  have  been 
ca'led  4  old  channels ;'  but  this  name  does  not  con 
vey  the  proper  idea,  since  a  channel  is  not  nec 
essarily  a  river,  and  an  old  channel  is  not  nec 
essarily  a  dead  one.  A  dead  river  is  a  channel 
formerly  occupied  by  a  running  stream,  but  now 
filled  up  with  earthy  or  rocky  matter,  and  is  not 
to  be  confounded  with  a  channel  that  is  open  and 
remains  dry  during  the  greater  part  of  the  year 
because  of  a  lack  of  water,  or  that  has  been 
abandoned  by  the  stream  for  a  deeper  channel 
elsewhere.  A  dry  river-bed  is  not  a  dead  river. 

"The  dead  rivers  of  California,  so  far  as  are 
known,  are  on  the  western  slope  of  the  Sierra 
Nevada,  from  five  hundred  to  seven  thousand  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  sea.  They  are  all  gold- 
yielding,  and  therefore  they  have  been  sought  and 


TOM    NELSON    IN   CALIFORNIA.  253 

examined.  The}T  have  yielded  probably  three  hun~ 
dred  millions  in  all;  they  now  produce  perhaps 
eight  million  dollars  annually.  They  are  not  less 
interesting  to  the  miner  than  to  the  geologist, 
not  less  important  to  the  statesman  than  to  the 
antiquarian." 

At  the  risk  of  being  considered  tedious  by  some 
of  my  boy-readers,  I  will  transcribe  the  writer's 
explanation  of  the  existence  of  these  dead  rivers. 
For  the  reason  we  must  go  back  to  a  remote 
geological  epoch:  "The  main  cause  must  have 
been  the  subsequent  rise  of  the  Sierra  Nevada. 
Suppose  that  a  range  of  mountains,  seven  thou 
sand  feet  high,  were  upheaved  thirty  miles  east 
of  the  Mississippi ;  that  the  bed  of  that  stream 
were  on  the  mountain  side,  three  thousand  feet 
above  the  sea,  and  that  thirty  miles  west  the 
country  maintained  its  present  level ;  the  result 
would  be  that  the  present  Mississippi  would  soon 
be  a  dead  river ;  it  would  be  cut  across  by  streams 
running  down  the  mountain  side,  and  flowing  into 
a  nt3w  Mississippi,  thirty  miles  or  more  west  of 
the  present  one.  We  know  that  the  Sierra  Nevada 


254  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

has  been  upheaved ;  that  a  large  stream  ran  on 
what  is  now  the  mountain  side,  and  that  it  has 
been  succeeded  by  a  new  river  farther  west,  and 
we  must  infer  that  the  death  of  the  old  and  the 
birth  of  the  new  river  were  caused  by  the 
upheaval." 

Reference  is  here  made  to  the  Big  Blue  Lead, 
the  largest  dead  river  known  in  California,  which 
has  been  traced  for  a  distance  of  sixt3'-five  miles, 
from  Little  Grizzly,  in  Sierra  County,  to  Forest 
Hill,  in  Placer  County.  The  original  river,  how 
ever,  is  thought  to  have  run  for  many  hundreds 
of  miles.  Eventually  traces  of  its  existence  may 
be  found  elsewhere. 

It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  Tom  and  his 
friends  knew  anything  about  dead  rivers,  or 
troubled  themselves  as  to  how  the  rich  deposits 
had  been  made,  or  how  long  they  had  been  waiting 
discovery.  They  were  chiefly  engaged  with  more 
practical  considerations.  They  found  a  rich  harvest 
in  the  ra\ines,  and  they  went  to  work  energeti 
cally. 
•The  work  was  monotonous,  and  a  detailed  ac- 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  255 

count  of  their  progress  would  be  tiresome  What 
we  chiefly  care  about  is  results,  and  these  may 
be  gathered  from  a  conversation  which  took  place 
some  five  months  later. 

Under  a  tent,  at  night-fall,  reclined  the  three 
friends.  The}7  looked  contented,  and  on  good 
terms  with  the  world ;  but,  though  prosperous, 
the}'  certainly  did  not  look  it.  In  fact,  they  were 
all  three  exceedingly,  almost  disreputably,  shabby. 
They  looked  more  like  tramps  than  respectable 
gold-miners. 

"Tom,  you  are  looking  very  ragged,"  said 
Dick  Russell,  surveying  our  hero  critically. 

"  I  know  it,  Dick.  I  feel  as  though  I  had  just 
come  out  of  a  rag-bag.  I  can't  say  that  you  look 
much  better,  nor  Ferguson  either." 

"This  rough  work  is  hard  on  clothing,"  said 
Russell.  "I  wish  there  were  a  ready-made  clothing 
store  near  by." 

"  So  do  I.  I  would  pay  a  high  price  for  a 
good  suit." 

"  If  our  friends  at  home  could  see  us,  what 
would  they  think,  eh,  Tom?" 


256  THE    YOUNG    MINER;     OR, 

u  That   we  were   candidates  for  the  poor-house." 

44  That's  so.  I've  been  into  several  poor-houses 
in  the  course  of  my  life,  but  I  never  saw  any 
of  the  inmates  quite  so  poorly  clad  as  we  are." 

44  You  are  right,"  said  Ferguson;  "but  there 
are  generally  compensations.  I  was  taking  account 
of  stock,  and  I  estimate  that  I  have  from  sixteen 
to  eighteen  hundred  dollars'  worth  of  gold-dust." 

44  I  have   nearly   as   much,"    said  Tom. 

"My  pile  won't  vary  far  from  Tom's,"  said 
Russell. 

4 'That  is  a  pretty  good  showing  for  five 
months,  my  friend,"  said  the  Scotchman. 

44  It  will  make  up  for  the  old  clothes,"  said 
Tom. 

44 1  have  been  thinking,"  said  Ferguson,  44  that 
we  need  a  vacation.  What  do  you  say  to  start 
ing  next  week  for  San  Francisco?" 

44 1   agree,"   said   Russell,  promptly. 

4 'And  I,"  said  Tom.  44 1  should  like  to  see 
John  Miles." 

44  Veiy  well.  We  will  continue  our  work  about 
a  week  longer,  and  then  start." 


TOP    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

A   RICH    DEPOSIT. 

ABOUT  the   middle    of    the  next    forenoon    Tom 
suddenly   stopped  work. 

"What's   the   matter,    Tom?     Are   you   tired?" 

"  No,   but  I  feel  like   exploring   a  little.      Who 
goes  with   me?" 

"  Not  I,"  answered  Ferguson.  "  Let  well 
enough  alone." 

"I'll  go  with  3Tou,"  said  Russell.  "I  should  like 
a  holiday.  Besides,  we  may  discover  something." 

"  '  A  rolling  stone  gathers  no  moss,'  "  said  Fer 
guson. 

"  True,  but  there's  another  proverb :  '  All  work 
and  no  play  makes  Jack  a  dull  boy.'  Tom  and  I 
will  try  a  little  play." 

The  two  friends  sauntered  away  in  an  idle 
mood ;  yet,  combining  business  with  pleasure,  they 


THE     YOUNG    MINER;   OA, 

watched   carefully  the  surface   indications,  ready  to 
avail   themselves   of  any   that  were   favorable. 

"  It's  a  strange  life  we  are  leading,  Tom,"  said 
Russell.  "It  is  free,  and  independent,  and  health 
ful  ;  but  I  shouldn't  like  to  live  so  all  my 
life." 

"  Nor  I,"  answered  Tom.  "  No  amount  of  gold 
would  repa}T  me." 

"  Because  gold  is  only  valuable  for  what  it  will 
bring.  Here  it  brings  nothing." 

' c  Except  the  hope  of  future  ease  and  comfort," 
suggested  Torn. 

"  Of  course ;  that  is  what  we  are  working  for. 
We  have  made  a  good  beginning." 

"Yes,  Dick.  I  have  almost  accomplished  what 
I  have  had  in  view  ever  since  I  left  home." 

"  I  know.  You  mean  paying  off  your  father's 
mortgage." 

"  That's  it.  It  amounts  to  twenty-two  hundred 
dollars,  and  I  have  but  a  few  hundred  dollars 
more  to  earn.  I  would  stay  here  a  month  or  two 
longer,  if  my  clothes  would  hold  together;  but  I 
can't  risk  it." 


TOM:  NELSON  IN  CALIFORNIA.  259 

"  You  need  rest,  at  any  rate,  Tom,  leaving 
clothes  out  of  the  question." 

As  he  spoke,  Tom,  without  special  thought,  drove 
his  pick  into  the  ground.  It  was  a  lucky  in 
spiration.  Some  shining  particles  attracted  the 
attention  of  Russell. 

"  Tom,"  he  exclaimed,  in  excitement,  "  do  you 
see  that,  and  that?  I  believe  you've  struck  a 
bonanza." 

Upon  that  both  set  to  work  in  earnest.  A  fur 
ther  investigal 'on  showed  that  Russell  was  right. 

Tom,   by   good   luck,   had   chanced  upon   a   deposit 

V 

of  far  greater  richness  than  any  they  had  yet 
encountered. 

"If  it  holds  out,  our  fortunes  are  made,  Tom," 
said  Russell.  "  Go  and  call  Ferguson,  and  I 
will  remain  on  guard  till  }'ou  come  back." 

Tom  stood  not  on  the  order  of  his  going, 
but  went  at  once. 

"What's  the  matter,  Tom?"  asked  the  Scotch 
man,  as,  panting  and  breathless,  Tom  stood  before 
him.  uHas  anything  happened  to  Russell?" 

44  No;     it's    good    news  —  splendid     news,     Mr. 


260  THE     TODNG    MINER;    Oi?, 

Ferguson.     We've  found  a  place  ten   times  as  rich 
as  this.     ^!ome   at   once,   and    see." 

Ferguson  made  preparations  to  accompany  Tom 
with  what  seemed  to  our  hero  to  be  provoking 
deliberation.  In  truth  the  Scotchman,  with 
his  national  caution,  was  rather  sceptical  as  to 
Tom's  news,  and  did  not  suffer  himself  to  become 
enthusiastic  or  excited.  Tom  had  hard  work  to 
accommodate  his  impatient  steps  to  the  measured 
pace  of  his  more  sedate  companion.  When  at 
length  they  reached  the  spot  they  found  Russell 
no  less  impatient. 

"I   thought  you  would   never  come,"   he  said. 

"Tom  wanted  to  fly,"  said  Ferguson;  "but  I 
am  too  old  for  that.  Now,  what  is  it  you  have 
found?" 

When  he  was  shown  what  had  been  discovered 
he  admitted  that  it  was  very  promising. 

44  If  it  holds  out,  we  shall  be  lucky,"  he 
said. 

"  It  will  hold  out,"  said  Russell,  enthusiastically. 

"It  isn't  well  to  be  too  confident,"  said  Fer 
guson,  cautiously. 


TOM    NELSON   IN  CALIFORNIA.  261 

"  You  are  very  cold-blooded,  Mr.  Ferguson," 
said  Russell,  impatiently.  "  Won't  anything 
excite  you?" 

"What  good  would  it  do  to  become  excited?" 
returned  the  Scotchman.  "  I  am  as  ready  to 
test  the  matter  as  you  are,  and  I  shall  rejoice 
if  your  sanguine  expectations  are  realized.  Do 
not  expect  too  much,  however,  and  you  will 
guard  against  possible  disappointment." 

But  there  was  no  disappointment  awaiting  them. 
They  worked  steadily  for  two  jveeks,  with  mar 
vellous  results.  In  this  time  they  unearthed  six 
thousand  dollars'  worth  of  gold,  which  by  arrange 
ment  they  divided  equally  between  them ;  and 
still  the  gold  deposit  was  far  from  being  ex 
hausted. 

At  the  end  of  the  fortnight  they  were  visited 
by  a  party  of  capitalists  from  San  Francisco,  who 
were  out  on  an  exploring  expedition.  They  recog 
nized  the  richness  of  the  new  discoveries,  and 
after  some  negotiation  offered  the  three  friends 
ten  thousand  dollars  for  their  claims.  One  con 
sideration  decided  them  to  accept.  It  was  abso- 


262  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    0JJ, 

lately  necessary  for  them  to  go  to  the  city  for 
clothing  and  other  articles,  of  which  they  stood 
in  imperative  need.  They  closed  the  bargain  and 
started  on  their  return. 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  263 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

BAD   NEWS   FROM    HOME. 

ARRIVING  in  the  city  late  in  the  afternoon, 
Tom  went  at  once  to  see  John  Miles.  When 
the  latter  caught  sight  of  Tom,  in  his  ragged 
attire,  he  came  to  the  natural  conclusion  that 
our  hero  had  met  with  hard  luck. 

"Why,  Tom,  where  did  you  spring  from?"  he 
exclaimed,  grasping  the  hand  of  his  young 
partner. 

"I   am  just  in  from  the  mines." 

" 1  suppose  you  are  in  want  of  money,"  said 
Miles,  his  voice  betraying  sympathy. 

Tom  laughed. 

"How  do  you   like    my  appearance,  John ?"   he 

asked. 

"Never  mind  that,  Tom.  I  see  you  have  had 
a  rough  time;  but  I  have  been  earning  money 
for  you." 


264  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR 

"Did  you  send    money  regularly  to  father?" 

"  Yes ;  I  have  sent  him  three  hundred  dollars 
in  all." 

"That's  good,"  said  Tom,  in  a  tone  of  satis 
faction.  "That  has  made  ^  him  easy.  I  suppose 
that  took  up  about  all  I  was  entitled  to?" 

"  No ;  I  have  as  much  more  to  your  credit. 
I  am  ready  to  pay  it  to  you  at  once." 

"  I  see,  John,  you  think  I  have  not  been 
doing  well." 

"You  don't  look  very  prosperous,  Tom,  I  must 
acknowledge." 

"  Well,  John,  appearances  are  deceitful.  I  have 
been  wonderfully  lucky." 

"I  am  delighted  to  hear  it,  Tom,"  said  Miles, 
cordially.  "How  much  is  it  now?" 

"What  do  you   say   to   a  thousand   dollars?" 

"Excellent." 

"Two  thousand?" 

"You   don't   mean   it!" 

"  I  won't  keep  you  in  suspense,  John.  I  don't 
Know  exactly  how  much  I've  got,  but  it's  over 
six  thousand  dollars  !  " 


TOM    NELSON   IN  CALIFORNIA.  265 

John  Miles  stared  at  our  hero  in  undisguised 
astonishment. 

"Are  you  sure  you're  quite  right  here?"  he 
said,  touching  his  forehead.  "  You  haven't  been 
sun-struck,  have  you?" 

"No,  John,  it's  all  as  I  tell  you.  Let  me 
explain  how  my  luck  came." 

In  a  few  sentences  Tom  made  it  clear  to  his 
partner  that  his  luck  was  real. 

"  As  to  the  three  hundred  dollars  due  me  from 
you,  John,"  concluded  Tom,  "I  make  you  a 
present  of  it." 

"But,   Torn  — "  protested   Miles. 

"Let  it  be  so,  and  for  the  future  you  shall 
pay  me  my  share.  Have  you  any  letters  for  me?" 

"  I   have   three." 

"Give  them  to  me,  quick.  I  am  hungry  for 
news  from  home." 

Tom  sat  down  on  a  keg,  and  fairly  devoured 
the  letters,  two  of  which  were  from  his  father. 
One  of  these  gave  him  much  to  think  of.  I 
will  transcribe  the  passages  which  gave  Tom  mos 
concern :  — 


266  THE   YOUNG  MINER;  on, 

1  'Yesterday  I  paid  Squire  Hudson  his  regular 
semi-annual  interest,  amounting  to  sixty-six  dollars. 
Thanks  to  your  liberal  remittances,  I  had  no  diffi 
culty  in  making  the  payment.  Indeed,  I  had  two 
hundred  dollars  left  over.  Imagine  my  dismay 
when  the  squire  told  me  he  had  made  up  his 
mind  to  call  in  the  mortgage,  having  another  use 
for  the  money. 

" '  But  I  can't  pay   it  up,'   said   I. 

" '  You  ought  to  be  able  to  obtain  the  money 
somewhere,'  he  returned. 

"  *  You  are  the  only  capitalist  with  whom  I  am 
acquainted,'  said  I.  '  Since  I  have  paid  you  the 
interest  promptly,  what  more  can  you  desire?' 

"  He  insisted  that  he  needed  the  money.  I 
offered  to  pay  him  the  two  hundred  dollars  which 
he  had  advanced  for  your  journey.  He  seemed 
surprised,  but  repeated  that  he  must  have  the 
whole.  The  upshot  of  it  was  that  he  gave  me  a 
formal  notice  of  three  months,  as  stipulated  in 
the  mortgage.  At  the  end  of  that  time,  unless  I 
am  ready  to  pay  the  twenty-two  hundred  dollars, 
he  will  foreclose,  and  the  old  farm  must  be  sold. 


TOM   NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  267 

Of  course  it  will  be  sold  much  below  its  real  value. 
Probably  the  squire  will  get  it  for  the  amount  of 
the  mortgage,  and  we  shall  be  thrown  upon  the 
world,  without  a  home.  It  seems  hard,  Tom,  and 
very  selfish ;  but  might  makes  right,  and  Squire 
Hudson  has  the  power  on  his  side." 

In  a  postscript  Mark  Nelson  added,  "  I  under 
stand  that  Squire  Hudson  has  a  connection,  his 
wife's  brother,  for  whom  he  wants  the  farm.  That 
explains  his  resolute  refusal  to  give  me  time  to 
redeem  it.  Of  course  it  is  too  early  to  decide 
upon  any  plans.  I  must  hire  some  tenement  to 
move  into  when  I  have  to  leave  here.  It  will  be 
hard  upon  us  all  to  give  up  the  old  farm.  Walter, 
who  has  a  taste  for  farming,  and  whom  I  look 
to  be  my  successor,  feels  very  sad.  Don't  let 
this  news  depress  you  too  much,  Tom.  We  shall 
not  suffer.  Thanks  to  you,  I  have  some  money 
ahead,  and  we  shall  not  lack  for  comfort." 

Tom  looked  up  when  he  had  finished  reading 
the  letter. 

"John/  he  said,  quickly,  "when  does  the  next 
steamer  start  for  New  York?" 


268  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    Ofl, 

"  Day   after   to-morrow." 

"Where   can   I   engage   passage?" 

"Are  yon  going  home?" 

"  Yes,  John,  it  is  absolute!}'  necessary.  Squire 
Hudson  is  about  to  foreclose  the  mortgage  on  my 
father's  farm.  I  must  be  there  to  stop  it." 

"Have  3rou  money   enough?" 

"  Three  times  over.  He  shall  be  defeated  in 
his  wicked  purpose,  or  my  name  isn't  Tom  Nel 
son." 

Tom  spoke  in  a  quick,  indignant  tone,  and 
his  voice  had  a  manly  ring. 

"  Wait,   John,   let  me  read  you  the  letter." 

"The  man's  a  mean  rascal!"  said  Miles.  "A 
rich  man  who  will  take  advantage  of  a  poor 
man's  necessity  to  deprive  him  of  his  home  de 
serves  to  be  horsewhipped." 

"I  shan't  attempt  that,"  said  Tom,  smiling; 
"  but  I  will  disappoint  him.  He  little  thinks  I 
have  it  in  my  power  to  defeat  his  plans." 

That  very  evening  Tom  engaged  passage  to 
New  York,  and  two  days  later  he  sailed  out  of 
the  Golden  Gate. 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  269 

"  I  don't  know  how  long  I  shall  be  gone,  John," 
he  said.  "  You  need  send  me  no  remittances,  for 
I  have  money  enough  with  me.  You  will  hear 
from  me  as  soon  as  I  have  reached  home, 
and  transacted  my  business  with  Squire  Hud 
son." 

"You  will  come  out  here  again,  Tom,  won't 
you?" 

44  Yes,  and  before  long.  I  have  been  so  busily 
occupied  making  money  that  I  have  seen  almost 
nothing  of  San  Francisco." 

Tom  did  not  journey  alone.  Ferguson,  having 
thriven  beyond  his  expectations,  decided  to  sail 
to  New  York,  and  thence  to  Scotland,  on  a  visit 
to  his  relatives,  though  he  thought  it  probable  he 
should  come  back  within  a  year.  Dick  Russell 
also  was  now  in  a  position  to  study  law  at 
borne,  and  gave  up  the  business  of  gold-mining 
forever. 

"I  owe  all  my  present  prosperity  to  you  two," 
h<3  said.  "  But  for  you  I  should  have  blown  my 
h  !ains  out  five  months  since." 

u  We    owe    our    prosperity    to    you    also,"    said 


270  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

Tom.     "You  guided  us  to  the  mines   from  which 
we  gathered  a  golden  harvest." 

"  We  have  worked  together,  and  been  mutual 
helpers,"  said  Ferguson.  "  God  has  favored  us 
all,  and  to  Him  be  the  thanks  I" 


TOM    NELSON   IN  CALIFORNIA.  271 


CHAPTER   XXX. 

THE   NIGHT   BEFORE   THE   AUCTION. 

IT  was  a  sad  household,  that  of  Mark  Nelson, 
on  the  day  preceding  the  departure  from  the  farm. 
There  was  to  be  an  auction  the  next  day,  at 
which  the  farm-stock  and  farm-implements  were 
to  be  sold.  It  was  well  understood  that  Squire 
Hudson  was  to  be  the  buyer  of  the  farm,  and 
as  he  was  not  likely  to  have  any  competitor 
there  was  little  hope  that  it  would  fetch  more 
than  the  amount  of  the  mortgage. 

During  the  afternoon  Mr.  Nelson  called  on 
Squire  Hudson  to  make  the  best  terms  he  could 
at  private  sale. 

"  The  farm  is  worth  at  least  a  thousand  dollars 
more  than  the  mortgage,  Squire  Hudson,"  said 
the  farmer. 

"It  is  worth  what  it  will  fetch,  Mr.  Nelson," 
said  the  squire. 


272  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OB, 

"  Do  you  mean  that  an  article  always  commands 
its  full  value  at  auction,  Squire  Hudson?" 

u  Ahem !  it  brings  its  market  value,  Mr  Nel 
son." 

u  Which  may  be  far  below  its  intrinsic  value. 
Suppose  a  diamond  worth  ten  thousand  dollars 
were  put  up  at  auction  in  our  village,  do  you 
consider  that  it  would  bring  a  fair  price?" 

"  Ahem !  you  are  wandering  from  the  subject. 
We  are  talking  of  farms,  not  diamonds." 

"  As  to  the  farm,  then,  you  are  likely  to  be  the 
only  bidder,  unless  you  allow  the  mortgage  to 
remain." 

*'  If  I  were  inclined  to  do  that  I  would  not 
disturb  you  as  long  as  you  paid  the  interest 
promptly." 

"Then  you  decline  to  buy  the  farm  at  private 
sale?" 

44 1  do." 

u  I  don't  think  you  will  be  any  better  off  in 
the  end,  Squire  Hudson,  for  oppressing  a  poor 
man,  and  robbing  him  of  his  little  all,"  said 
Mark  Nelson,  bitterly. 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  273 

"  You  don't  look  at  the  matter  from  a  business 
point  of  view,"  said  the  squire,  coldly.  "I  am 
acting  as  any  business  man  would  under  the  cir 
cumstances." 

"I  cannot  believe  you,  sir.  All  business  men 
are  not  so  hard-hearted." 

"  I  really  don't  think  there  is  any  use  in  pro 
longing  this  interview,"  said  Squire  Hudson, 
stiffly.  "  I  have  resolved  upon  my  course,  in 
which  I  am  perfectly  justified,  however  you  may 
choose  to  regard  it." 

This  removed  the  farmer's  last  hope,  and 
he  had  only  to  look  about  for  another  home  for 
his  family.  There  was  small  choice  of  houses  in 
the  little  farming  town.  In  fact  there  was  but 
one  house,  —  a  shabby,  dilapidated  building,  a 
mile  from  the  church  and  store.  This,  Mr. 
Nelson,  having  no  choice,  engaged  for  a  period 
of  three  months. 

"  It  makes  me  homesick  to  think  of  going  to 
live  in  that  barn,"  said  Sarah,  as  they  were  sitting 
together  after  supper. 

"  It    may    not    be    so    bad    as  you    think    for, 


£74  THE     TO  UNO    MINE It;    OR^ 

Sarah,"  said  her  mother ;  but  she  secretly  sym 
pathized  with  her  daughter. 

"  I  wish  Squire  Hudson  had  to  live  there  him 
self,"  said  Walter,  in  an  angry  outburst. 

Usually  Walter  was  checked  by  his  father 
when  uttering  such  speeches;  but  to-night  Mark 
Nelson  took  no  notice  of  his  son's  angry  remark. 
He  felt  that  it  would  only  be  a  righteous  retri 
bution  upon  the  squire  for  his  cold  selfishness. 

While  they  were  sitting  in  the  plain  room  en 
deared  to  them  by  the  association  of  years,  a 
sound  of  wheels  was  heard,  and  the  village  stage 
stopped  before  the  door. 

u  Who  can   it  be?"   said   Sarah,  wonderingly. 

The  whole  family  hurried  to  the  window.  What 
youthful,  yet  manly  figure,  was  that  actively 
descending  from  his  perch  beside  the  driver? 

"  It's  Tom  !  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Nelson.  "  Heaven 
be  praised !  It  is  my  dear  boy." 

Tom  was  almost  suffocated  b}^  the  embraces 
which  he  received  on  entering  the  house. 

"  How  you  have  grown,  Tom ! "  said  Sarah. 
"  And  how  well  you  look ! " 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  275 

"  Thank  you  for  the  compliment,"  said  Torn, 
laughing.  "But  I  don't  feel  well." 

"What  is  the  matter?"  asked  his  mother,  with 
maternal  solicitude. 

"I  am  as  hungry  as  a  bear.  Have  you  got 
anything  to  eat  in  the  house?" 

This  hint  was  enough.  Fresh  tea  was  made, 
and  the  wanderer  was  soon  sitting  before  a  bountiful 
supply  of  food,  cooked  in  his  mother's  best  style. 

"It  seems  good  to  be  at  home,"  said  Tom, 
looking  around  him,  his  face  beaming  with  hap 
piness. 

"  Did   you  get  my  letter,  Tom,   announcing  the 
squire's     intention     to     foreclose     the    mortgage? 
asked   his  father,   gravely. 

"Yes,   father;   is  it  really  true?" 

"  Yes ;   he  will  listen  to  no  persuasions." 

"When   does   the   sale  take  place?" 

"  To-morrow." 

"  1  shall  be  present.  Have  you  thought  of  any 
other  house,  father?" 

"  The  old  Belcher  house  is  the  only  one  I  can 
hire." 


276  THE     YOUNG    MINER;   OR, 

"  That  is   a  poor  place." 

"It  must   do  for  lack  of  a  better." 

"  I  didn't  think  the  squire  would  act   so  meanty. 

At    any  rate,   father,   I    will    see    that    ycu    don't 

any  of  you   suffer  for  lack  of  money." 

"Have    you    been    doing    well,    Tom?"    asked 

Walter. 

"  Ask  me  to-morrow,  Walter.     To-night  I  want 

to    hear  all    the    news,    and    everything    that    haa 

happened  since  I  went  away." 


TOM  NELSON  IN  CALIFORNIA.  277 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

BIDDING   FOR   THE    FARM. 

"I  APPREHEND,"  said  the  squire  to  his  brothei- 
in-law  the  next  morning,  "  that  we  shall  get  the 
farm  at  our  own  price." 

"I  hope  we  shall,  squire,"  said  the  poor  rela 
tive,  deferentially.  "I  suppose  this  man  Nelson 
is  sorry  to  part  with  it." 

44  Of  course ;  he  charges  me  with  meanness, 
oppressing  the  poor,  and  so  on;  but  of  course  I 
don't  mind  that.  It's  a  matter  of  business ;  as  I 
told  him." 

"To  be   sure." 

"  I  am  not  to  be  moved  by  sentimental  consid 
erations.  Business  is  business ;  but  he  won't  see 
it  in  that  light." 

44  You  consider  the  farm  worth  considerable  more 
than  the  amount  of  the  mortgage,  of  course?" 


ram  rouxe  MIXEX.  OR; 

"ft   is    worth    four   thousand    dollars,    in    my 
opinion,"  said  the  sqi  ire,  complacently. 

"If  yon  get  it  lor  twenty-two  hundred,  it  wffl 

"Father,"  ezdaimed  Sindair,  entering  the  break- 
fest-foom,  rather  hurriedly,  "Tom  Nelson  has  got 

"Where   did  yon   hear   this,  my  son?"   asked 
Squire  Hudson,  in  surprise* 
"At  the   store.    He  got  home  by  the 


"Got  dfceonteated,  I  toppae,"  Mid  the  squire, 
m  m  tone  of  triumph.  "I  thoogfrt  that  WM  bow 
it  would  torn  oat*.  Be  can't  <A'|mit  me  to  adTance 
money  to  take  him  out  there  again.- 

"I  wish  yon  would  let  me  go,"  said  «ndair. 

"Some  day  I  may  take  a  trip  out  there  with 
yon,  my  son.  Hare  yon  seem  Thomas?" 

been  round  si  OK  store," 

He  wffl  hare  to  work  on  tine  farm — on  a  fan 


JOT  CXL/FD  JCJTIJL  i  "  • 


I    suppose  that  win    be    a   bard  pffl  for 
to  swaDow,"  said 

o  doubt.    He   is 

lather  before  him.     I  am  glad  of  one 

I* 
i/j.    *  -:-v    ".     _"...-_"    ..':..:.•:    11:-    .v       i.:.  ..  -.     .    .- 

lars  I  advanced  for 
be  raised 


—  .  •      • 

l  Doagn  tnere  were   not   nicely  to   be 

petitors    for    the    farm, 

gathered  at  the  safe. 

of  sympathy   for   the 

able  to  express  that  sympathy  in  a 

Squire  Hudson  cared  fitde  for  the  optnk*  of 

neighbors.    Some  of  them  were    in    debt  to  1 

and  he  looked  down  npon  them  with  the 

of  wealth. 

Tom  recerred  many  friendly  gnxOngs.  He 
plainly  dressed,  quiet  in  bis  manner,  ami  se 
to  take  matters  Tery  coolly. 

length  the  &rm  was  pot  m>  the 
naturally  turning  towards  the  squire,  wbo 
pompously,  **  I  bid  twenty-two 


280  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

amount  of  the  mortgage  I  hold  upon  the  prop 
erty." 

"Is  there  any  other  bid?"  asked  the  auctioneer. 

"  I  bid  twenty-five  hundred  dollars,"  said  a  clear, 
boyish  voice. 

All  were  startled,  and  all  eyes  were  turned  upon 
Tom  Nelson,  who  came  slightly  forward. 

"  Twenty-five  hundred  ! "  repeated  the  auctioneer, 
hesitating  whether  he  should  receive  the  bid. 

"I  protest  against  this  outrage,"  exclaimed 
Squire  Hudson,  angrily.  "The  bid  is  ridiculous." 

"Why  is  my  bid  ridiculous,  Squire  Hudson?" 
asked  Tom,  calmly. 

"Because  you  haven't  got  the  money.  It  is  a 
transparent  attempt  to  run  up  the  price  of  the 
farm." 

"You  know  nothing  of  my  circumstances,  Squire 
Hudson,"  said  Tom,  independently.  "  I  stand 
ready  to  pay  the  sum  I  bid,  and,  should  you 
outbid  me,  I  am  ready  to  prove  to  any  committee 
you  may  appoint,  that  I  possess  the  money,  or 
all  my  bids  shall  go  for  nothing,  and  you  can 
have  the  farm  at  your  first  offer." 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  281 

<  <  That  is   fair!"   cried   all. 

"This  is  all  nonsense,"  said  the  squire.  u Those 
of  you  who  choose  may  believe  this  boy ;  I 
don't." 

"  Going  at  twenty-five  hundred ! "  said  the  auc 
tioneer. 

"  Twenty-five  hundred  and  fifty!"  said  the 
squire,  adding,  "I  make  the  bid  on  the  terms 
proposed  by  the  boy." 

"Twenty-eight   hundred!"   said   Tom. 

"And  fifty!"   bid   the   squire. 

"  Three  thousand  ! "   instantly  came   from   Tom. 

No  one  was  more  surprised  than  Tom's  own 
family  at  this  unexpected  scene.  He  had  not 
dropped  a  hint  as  to  his  intentions,  choosing  to 
take  all  by  surprise.  Mark  Nelson  was  perplexed. 
Though  he  had  great  confidence  in  Tom,  he  feared 
that  he  could  not  make  good  his  bold  bids. 

At    length  the   farm   was    knocked   down   to   our  / 
hero   at  three   thousand   five   hundred   dollars. 

"  Now,"  said  the  squire,  angrily,  "  I  demand 
that  this  farce  come  to  an  end.  I  believe 
the  bidding  of  this  boy  to  be  a  premeditated 


282  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OE, 

swindle.     If   so,   I   will   do   my   best  to  have  him 
punished," 

"And  I,"  said  Tom,  boldly,  "have  an  equal 
right  to  demand  that  Squire  Hudson  submit  proof 
that  he  is  responsible  for  the  amount  of  his  offers." 

"  Curse  your  impudence !  "  exclaimed  the  squire, 
foaming  with  rage. 

"But  I  waive  that  right,"  continued  Tom,  "and 
will  ask  Squire  Hudson  to  name  two  gentlemen 
present  to  examine  the  proofs  which  I  have  to 
offer  of  my  ability  to  back  my  bids." 

"  I  name  Mr.  Jones  and  Mr.  Howe,"  said  the 
squire,  quickly,  "  and  request  them  to  act  at 
once." 

"That  is   my  desire,"   said   Tom. 

In  five  minutes  the  committee  reported  that 
Tom  had  shown  them  bank-books,  of  two  Boston 
banks,  certifying  that  he  held  two  thousand  dol 
lars  on  deposit  in  one,  and  four  thousand  in  the 
other. 

"Is  that  satisfactory ?"  asked  Tom,   coolly. 

"  No,"  shouted  the  squire ;  "  I  believe  that  the 
books  are  bogus." 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  283 

But  the  rest  of  those  present  entertained  no 
doubts,  and  our  hero  was  at  once  surrounded  by 
admiring  friends,  who  shook  his  hand  till  it  fairly 
ached. 

"  Squire  Hudson,  your  mortgage  shall  be  paid 
whenever  you  desire,"  said  Tom. 

4 'Three  cheers  for  Tom  Nelson!"  proposed 
some  one,  and  the  cheers  were  given  with  a  will. 
During  the  confusion  the  squire  and  his  brother- 
in-law  slipped  out  of  the  house,  thoroughly  dis 
comfited. 


284  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    0JZ, 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

MANHOOD. 

IF  Squire  Hudson  was  surprised  at  Tom's  sud 
denly  revealed  wealth,  Mr.  Nelson  was  no  less 
so.  When  Tom  first  commenced  bidding  his 
father  feared  that  he  was  only  trying  to  annoy 
the  squire,  or,  perhaps,  seeking  to  force  him  to 
pay  a  higher  price  for  the  farm.  But  when 
investigation  revealed  the  fact  of  Tom's  riches, 
and  he  saw  the  mountain  of  debt  lifted  from  his 
little  property,  he  was  overjoyed  and  grateful. 

"  I  can't  understand  it,  Tom,"  he  said ;  "  how 
could  you  possibly  get  possession  of  so  much 
money  ?  " 

"  I  have  worked  hard,  father ;  but  that  won't 
explain  it.  I  have  been  very  lucky,  and  my 
good  luck  has  enabled  me  to  save  the  farm." 

u  I  think  you  will  be  easier  with  me  than  the 
squire,  Tom,"  said  his  father,  smiling.  "  I  will 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  285 

make  out  a  mortgage    to  you,   since  your    money 
has   been  used  to   redeem    the  farm." 

"  I  shall  have  no  claim  on  the  farm,"  said 
TOLD,  "or  if  I  have  I  give  -it  to  you.  I  have 
money  enough  for  myself,  and  hope  to  earn  a 
good  deal  more  besides." 

"If  that  is  the  case,  Tom,  I  will  gladly 
accept  your  gift.  It  will  be  a  great  relief  to 
think  that  I  have  no  interest  to  pay.  Now  I 
shall  be  able  to  get  along  easily.  I  have  over 
two  hundred  dollars  on  hand." 

"I  want  to  make  your  life  easier,  hereafter, 
father.  I  think  you  need  a  larger  income  than 
the  farm  will  yield  you,  and  I  will  therefore 
send  you  a  hundred  dollars  every  quarter." 

"  You  are  very  generous,  Tom ;  but  I  fear  you 
will  soon  get  rid  of  all  your  money  at  this 
rate." 

"I   will   explain    my   circumstances,   father,    and 
then    you   will   think    differently.     I    have   a    busi 
ness    in    San    Francisco    which    will    }'ield    me   at 
least  a  thousand   dollars   a  year,   without   my   per 
sonal   attention,    and   after   paying   the  squire  what 


486  THE     YOUNG    MINER;    OR, 

is  due  him  I  shall  have  about  four  thousand 
dollars  left.  This  I  mean  to  invest  securely  in 
Boston." 

"  I  can  hardly  realize  that  you  are  so  rich, 
Tom." 

"  I  can  scarcely  realize  it  myself,  father. 
When  I  think  of  the  change  that  fifteen  months 
have  made  in  my  circumstances  I  consider  myself 
the  luckiest  boy  in  the  world,  and  have  great 
cause  for  gratitude." 

It  will  be  understood  that,  though  Tom  had 
bid  thirty-five  hundred  dollars  for  the  farm,  all 
he  was  required  to  pay  was  the  amount  of  the 
mortgage,  the  bid  having  been  made  in  his 
father's  interest.  In  a  few  days  the  business  was 
completed,  and  Mr.  Nelson  found  himself  the 
owner  of  an  unincumbered  property. 

Tom  remained  a  week  longer  in  the  village, 
and  then  started  once  more  for  California.  His 
mother  urged  him  to  remain  at  home,  now  that  he 
had  so  much  money ;  but  Tom  reminded  her  that 
he  was  partner  in  a  business  in  San  Francisco, 
and  that  he  needed  to  look  after  his  interests 


TOM    NELSON    IN  CALIFORNIA.  287 

there.  John  Miles  might  be  sick,  or  die,  and  in 
that  case  he  might  meet  with  serious  losses. 

Returning  to  San  Francisco  Tom  became  an 
active  instead  of  a  silent  partner.  The  business 
was  considerably  enlarged,  and  became  much  more 
profitable.  At  the  end  of  two  years  Tom  sold 
out  to  his  partner  for  several  thousand  dollars, 
and,  entering  an  office,  studied  law,  devoting  a 
portion  of  his  time  to  general  study.  At  a  com 
paratively  early  age  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
of  his  adopted  city,  and  by  degrees  got  into 
lucrative  practice.  He  had  become  so  much 
attached  to  California  that  he  decided  to  make 
it  his  permanent  home.  Af 

Up  among  the  New  Hampshire  hills  his  father 
still  tills  his  little  farm,  but  he  no  longer  depends 
upon  it  for  his  entire  living.  Tom  regularly  sends 
the  allowance  he  promised,  and  in  addition  his 
orothers  are  often  the  recipients  of  handsome 
gifts.  Harry,  developing  a  taste  for  study,  was 
sent  to  Exeter  Academy,  from  which  in  due  course 
he  was  transferred  to  Harvard.  He,  too,  was 
destined  for  the  law,  and  when  he  had  taken 


288  THE     YOUNG    MINER. 

his   legal    degree  joined   Tom  in   California,  and  is 
now   bis   partner. 

Other  changes  there  are  in  the  little  village. 
Squire  Hudson  is  dead,  and  Sinclair,  making 
haste  to  sell  the  homestead,  removed  to  New 
York,  engaged  in  speculation,  and  lost  every 
thing.  One  day,  shabbily  dressed,  he  entered 
Tom's  office  in  San  Francisco,  and  asked  for  the 
loan  of  fifty  dollars  to  enable  him  to  reach  the 
mines.  Tom  gave  it,  for  old  acquaintance*  sake. 
It  was  not  the  last  request  for  money  made  by 
Sinclair.  Nothing  has  been  heard  of  him  for 
some  years,  and  it  is  probable  that  a  life  which 
was  of  no  service  to  any  one  is  finished.  He 
had  the  best  start  in  life,  but  misused  his  ad 
vantages.  Tom  has  worthily  employed  the  talents 
committed  to  his  charge,  and  is  happy,  honored, 
and  prosperous. 

THE  YOUNG  EXPLORER  ; 

or, 

AMONG  THE  SIERRAS, 
will   be  the   next  volume. 


LOAN  PERIOD 
HOME  USE 


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